Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy 2015 to 2032 Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
CONTENTS
1: Introduction - Brief, Scope, Vision and Aims 3
2: Summary of Key Findings and Issues 10
3: Scenario Testing 26
4: Policy Recommendations 28
5: Action Plan 32
6: Summary 44
Appendices: Assessment of Need Reports
Appendix A: Assessment of Need - Cricket Appendix B: Assessment of Need - Football Appendix C: Assessment of Need – Hockey Appendix D: Artificial Grass Pitch Analysis
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 2
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
1. Introduction – Brief, Scope, Vision and Aims.
1.1 Why the Strategy Has Been Developed With the changes to national planning policy and the notable changes to Hart in terms of population growth and housing development, the Council are currently developing their Local Plan and gathering the full evidence base for all services and provision across a wide range of opportunities and constraints within Hart.
The new Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study will form an essential component of the emerging Local Plan and requisite Infrastructure Delivery Plan. As such, this Playing Pitch Strategy is an essential element of the emerging evidence base setting out a robust, evidence based review of the sporting and investment needs for Hart.
Sport England’s Assessing Needs and Opportunities Guide (ANOG) for Indoor and Outdoor Sports Facilities provides the recommended approach to undertaking a robust assessment of need for indoor and outdoor sports facilities to meet the requirements of the Government’s NPPF which states that:
‘Access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation can make an important contribution to the health and well-being of communities. Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the needs for open space, sports and recreation facilities and opportunities for new provision. The assessments should identify specific needs and quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses of open space, sports and recreational facilities in the local area. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sports and recreational provision is required.’ (NPPF, Paragraph 73)
This Playing Pitch Strategy follows the specific Playing Pitch Strategy methodology (as detailed below in Section 1.4) to ensure full compliance with national planning policy and paragraph 73 in particular.
Hart District Council has a long tradition of supporting sport and physical activity participation amongst residents and visitors. The Council recognises that sport and leisure facilities are essential components of the district’s built infrastructure which both drive and respond to growth, change and improvement across Hart.
The specific drivers for the strategy came from each of the parties making up the Playing Pitch Steering Group and are shown in Figure 1.1
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 3
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Figure 1.1: Specific Drivers for the Strategy Local Authority Drivers o Health, fitness and physical activity o Community wellbeing in line with housing growth o Valid in planning terms o Delivery of social and physical infrastructure to support a minimum of 4,000 homes (from May 2014 – March 2032) o Draft Local Plan (to be agreed in 2016) Cricket Drivers Football Drivers Hockey Drivers Rugby Drivers o Addressing a decline in o Retention and growth o Retention and growth o Establish club rugby in participation using of teams. of teams. Hart with the different initiatives and o Retention of adult o Addressing the latent emergence of Hook and increasing access to the football (traditional and demand for hockey due Odiham RFC game. informal). to the lack of quality o Encourage community o Supporting youth o More opportunities for facilities. use of schools and MOD provision which is informal and different o Addressing the based pitches, e.g. Lord strong in Hampshire forms of the game. migration of players Wandsworth College o Retention of adult o Need for 3G AGPs to outside the District as and RAF Odiham cricket, supporting provide for more well as the need to clubs to retain existing flexible formats of the improve opportunities The PPS should assist in players. game. for hockey within Hart reviewing facilities to o Supporting clubs with facilitate further growing numbers e.g. There are 120+ adult The PPS should assist in development of rugby in Hook CC. football teams in the area reviewing any potential Hart. o Supporting multi use and it is important that the opportunities to work with provision / sites and strategy should help with football on any new improved relations with the retention of traditional developments within Hart. other sports. adult football.
Data from the ECB’s National Cricket Playing Survey 2014 and 2015 shows an overall decline in participation nationally of 7%. This strategy should help to address this decline at a local level Sport England Drivers o To support the assessment of need against planning applications. o To see the PPS translated into Council policy and influence future decisions to protect playing field sites. o To determine future need for outdoor sport provision.
1.2 The Extent of the Study Area The extent of the study area is the Hart District Council boundary. It was originally agreed by the Steering Group that data would be collected on the basis of three areas: North East (B), South East (C) and West (A) and subject to any key differences, then decide whether presentation of the data and conclusions would be against these three areas, or presented for the District as a whole. The Steering Group concluded that this would be the latter, apart from the Assessment of Need Reports (see Appendix A, B and C) which would still reflect the Sub-Areas.
Whilst the analysis of Sub Areas are dealt with on a sport specific basis in the appendices to assist with local planning and more local sporting needs, all future needs, planning applications and developments will be however, be reviewed on a District wide basis.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 4
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Housing and Growth Hart District’s close proximity to London and its connectivity to the whole of the south region provides continued opportunities for housing and population growth. From its most recent Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA), it predicts housing growth of a minimum of 4,000 homes from May 2012 to March 2032.
The detailed breakdown by population by age group is shown in Figure 1.2 below. It should be noted that the figures for 2011 differ from those published by ONS, because as explained in the SHMA, an adjustment to the published ONS figures available at the time were made to allow for unattributed population change and employment growth.
Figure 1.2 Projected population growth in Hart PROJ 5 (SNPP (updated)) population change 2011 to 2032 – Hart Population Population Change in % change Age group 2011 2032 population from 2011 0-4 5,687 5,773 86 1.5% 5-15 12,693 14,837 2,144 16.9% 16-29 13,207 14,269 1,062 8.0% 30-44 19,606 20,646 1,040 5.3% 45-64 25,247 27,108 1,861 7.4% 65-74 8,566 11,584 3,018 35.2% 75-84 4,783 8,358 3,575 74.7% 85+ 1,873 5,412 3,539 188.9% Total 91,662 107,986 16,384 17.8% Source: Hart District Council, July 2015
Figure 1.2 shows that the projected population for Hart is set to increase by 17.8% between 2011-2032. Any future sports facility developments will need to take this into account. An important element of this could be a new settlement in Winchfield which potentially could include between 4,000- 5,000 homes in total (noting some of which would be delivered post 2032).
1.3 The Vision and Objective The strategy will form a blueprint for outdoor sport provision and management, nurturing traditional forms of team games and providing opportunities for each sport to work together to develop new forms of their games and new ways of providing facilities to meet changing social trends.
The strategy, in line with the emerging Local Plan will look ahead to 2032. However, the site specific action plans will look forward five years. Sport England advocates that best practice for the strategy is that it will be a live document with the data reviewed on an annual basis.
1.4 The Approach to Developing the Strategy The approach and methodologies adopted align with Sport England's Playing Pitch Strategy Guidance (October 2013 and updates as at 03/03/2014 www.sportengland.org/facilities- planning/planning-for-sport/planning-tools-and-guidance/playing-pitch-strategy- guidance/) tailored to the study area as set out below.
The strategy aims to be robust, based on local needs and deliverable. This objective is assured by adhering to the 'ten steps' advocated in the current Sport England Playing Pitch Strategy Guidance (October 2013) as per Figure 1.3.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 5
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Figure 1.3: Ten Stage Approach
Stage A - Step 1: Prepare and tailor the approach
Stage B - Step 2: Gather supply information and views - Step 3: Gather demand information and views
Stage C - Step 4: Understand the situation at individual sites - Step 5: Develop the current and future pictures of provision - Step 6: Identify the key findings and issues
Stage D - Step 7: Develop the recommendations and action plan - Step 8: Write and adopt / agree the strategy
Stage E - Step 9: Apply and deliver the strategy - Step 10: Keep the strategy robust and up to date.
1.5 Tailoring the Approach - What makes the study area different? Hart is a predominately rural district which is situated in North Hampshire; the largest settlements include Fleet, Yateley, Blackwater and Hook and the district as a whole is bisected by the M3 motorway. There are 18 parishes (see Figure 1.4). Hart’s neighbouring local authority areas are: Basingstoke and Deane, East Hampshire, Waverley, Rushmoor, Surrey Heath, Bracknell Forest, Wokingham and West Berkshire.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 6
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Figure 1.4: Hart Parish Boundaries 2010
Around half the population lives within the two main urban areas of Fleet (population of around 32,000) and Yateley (population around 21,000).
Hart District Council is committed to improving the quality of life for all of its communities. Evidence from Sport England shows that increasing participation in sport and physical activity can help to reduce health inequalities, spur economic growth and energise community engagement.
A number of key statistics highlight the importance of sport and physical activity nationally with further indication below of how this impacts on the residents of Hart. o 17% of deaths are caused by inactivity. International comparison shows physical inactivity is a greater cause of death nationally than in almost every other economically comparable country. o £7.4bn is the estimated figure that physical inactivity costs the national economy in healthcare, premature deaths and sickness absence. o £1,760 - £6,900 can be saved in healthcare costs per person by taking part in sport. o £20.3bn was contributed to the English economy in 2010 through sport and sport- related activity. o 29% increase in numeracy levels can be achieved by underachieving young people who take part in sport. o £7.35 is the estimated return on investment for every £1 spent on sports for at- risk youth through, for example, reducing crime and anti-social behaviour. o The cost of inactivity for Hart is estimated at £1.3million per year. o 1 in 5 of all people in Hart (19.8%) are inactive.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 7
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Alongside the health related factors, Sport England have also highlighted the economic value of sport for Hart. Headline figures include:
o Gross Value Added for Sports Participation in Hart totals £19.4million per year – this covers subscription fees, equipment and sportswear. o Gross Value Added for non-participation related sport totals £4.2million – including spectator sports and subscriptions. o The total value of the industry to Hart across both participation and non-participation activities totals £23.6million.
(Source: Sport England Local Sports Date – Mini Sport Profiles October 2014).
The key issues specific to the study area which have an impact on the supply of and demand for pitches are mainly related to the social and economic make-up of the District. These in turn affect the supply of and demand for pitches. Figure 1.5 shows the key areas that Steering Group consider that make the study area different.
Figure 1.5: Key Areas that Make the Study Area different Local Authority o High affluence, high standard of education, highly engaged in sports o Mobile community, with a high number of Hart’s working population commuting into London or elsewhere for work o Large number of sports clubs with high levels of income and are very sustainable o High proportion of affluent females with a propensity to participate in sport for health and fitness o Relatively high participation in sport, as well as high propensity to play sport Cricket Football Hockey Rugby o Good coaching o Above national average o Potential growth area o Emerging opportunities opportunities for for football youth for hockey based on for establishing a new Hampshire Cricket participation. population and latent club at Hook & Odiham. o A number of well- o A number of well- demand. o New opportunities established and well established and well o Recent back to hockey would need to be organised clubs. organised clubs. programme has been considered either at o More leagues very successful. new sites or current represented in Hart o Lack of facilities for sites for rugby. than other league hockey leading neighbouring local to migration of players authorities outside of Hart. o Dedicated indoor cricket school in Eversley
1.6 Tailoring the Approach - How does the population participate? Participation trends are changing with growing demand for less traditional forms of the game beginning to emerge national and locally. However the majority of participation remains currently in the traditional forms of the game for Football, Cricket and Hockey. Growth in small sided football and successful Hockey programmes in Hart have seen demand rise in some different variations of the sport. Figure 1.6 shows how the population participates in Hart.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 8
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Figure 1.6: How the Sports Participate in Hart Cricket Football Hockey Rugby o Strong youth o In 2014/15 Hart had a o Hart has four hockey o With the emerging club participation, but clubs total of 239 teams clubs based in the only just starting in Hart and league indicates a which play in the District. focus on driving up big post 15 drop off. District. o Fleet & Ewshot Hockey participation is on o 41 adult teams (male & o Of the 238 teams Club has four men's and introductory female) regularly play operating in Hart, 44 three women's teams, programmes to home league cricket on (18%) were adult male one mixed and seven encourage participation pitches in the District teams, 96 (40%) were junior sides. in other versions of the on Saturdays, and male youth teams (all o Yateley Hockey Club game, e.g. Touch Rugby approximately six teams 9v9 and 11v11 formats) has 10 Adult and nine Programmes. play home league or and 98 (42%) are Mini- Junior (U6 to U18) friendly matches on Soccer teams (5v5 and o Both these clubs Sundays and occasional 7v7– including 1 girls currently play all their midweek games. Mini-Soccer). matches outside the o In the 2015 season o There were 7 girls youth District. there are 66 junior boys team and 4 ladies team. o Alton HC (three men’s and eight junior girls’ o The number of teams sides, two ladies’ sides, cricket teams playing increased by six teams one mixed and nine cricket regularly in the overall in Hart from junior sides) and District. season 2013/14. Warlock vets (one o Sunday leagues are in o Overall, football men’s side) use Lord decline and may be participation in Hart is Wandsworth College addressed through a higher for Youth and (noting this is a club shorter version of the mini soccer and slightly from outside of Hart game (T20 Sunday 6 a lower for adult football DC). side games). in comparison to o Women's and youth national averages. hockey is area of most growth. o There is demand for informal midweek versions of hockey (however, existing AGPs are mainly occupied by football).
1.7 Tailoring the Approach - Which pitch sports to include? The Steering Group agreed that the sports to be included in the strategy are football, hockey and cricket. Within these sports, the strategy seeks as far as is practicable to include consideration of all forms of play whether: o Club and league based (formal) play and training (including indoor nets for cricket), o Less formal programmed forms of the respective sports (e.g. turn up and play 'products' such as Rush Hockey, Mash Up Football, Last Man Standing, Cage Cricket) and o Un-programmed play by groups of residents, workers, students out of school.
Whilst a detailed Assessment of Need has not been undertaken for rugby, due to there not being any established clubs based in the District, the current development of a new team and future provision of growth has been included in the strategy.
1.8 Management and Delivery The development of the strategy has been managed by the Hart Playing Pitch Strategy Steering Group comprising representatives from The England & Wales Cricket Board, Hampshire Cricket Board, The Football Association, Hampshire County Football Association, England Hockey, Rugby Football Union, Sport England, officers of Hart District Council and Continuum Sport & Leisure Ltd, the consultants appointed to co-ordinate the strategy development to the point of the recommendations and action plan (i.e. Steps 1 to 7 as detailed in paragraph 1.4 above). www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 9
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
2. Summary of Key Findings and Issues (from Stages B & C)
The key findings of detailed Assessment of Need studies for the four major playing pitch sports played in the Hart District are summarised in this Section. The detailed Assessment of Need reports of findings (covering Stages B & C of Sport England's Playing Pitch Strategy Guidance) are appended as follows: o Appendix A: Cricket o Appendix B: Football o Appendix C: Hockey
There are no rugby clubs based in Hart therefore no appendix has been detailed. The position of rugby union in the District is however, covered in this Section.
This Section provides an overall summary of supply, planned and proposed changes to supply, current and latent demand covering the following leading questions as part of the Playing Pitch Strategy methodology.
o What are the main characteristics of the current supply of and demand for provision? o Is there enough accessible and secured community use provision to meet current demand? o Is the provision that is accessible of sufficient quality and appropriately maintained? o What are the main characteristics of the future supply and demand for provision? o Is there enough accessible and secured community use provision to meet future demand? o What is the overall quality level?
What are the Current supply of grass pitch playing field sites in Hart District is summarised in the main Figure 2.1 below: characteristics of the current Figure 2.1: Current Supply supply of and Sites Cricket Football Hockey Rugby demand for Secured sites 11 20 0 0 provision? Unsecured 5 13 5* 8** sites Disused sites 0 0 1 1*** TOTAL - 68 16 33 5 8 * Includes AGPs used for multiple sports ** Includes five school sites, two MOD sites & one Leisure Club *** Former Bramshill Police Training College
There are current supply issues for the strategy regarding hockey where there is reliance on sites outside of the District where community access is not secure. Plans are in place to address these for both clubs in the District.
Current supply of grass playing pitches is summarised in Figure 2.2 below:
Figure 2.2: Current Supply Grass Pitches Grass Pitches Cricket Football Rugby Senior pitches 30 33 9 Youth pitches N/A 29 1 (9v9 & 11v11) Mini pitches N/A 16 0 (5v5 & 7v7) TOTAL - 117 30 78 10
For football, there are supply issues for the strategy to consider in relation to access to sufficient youth and Mini-Soccer pitches. This is particularly an issue for football as evidenced by the comparison of pitch supply (by pitch size) to teams (by age group) playing in the District in Figure 2.3 below:
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 10
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Figure 2.3: Football Pitches Pitch Supply Football Teams Senior (over 18) 34 41% 44 18% Youth (U11 - U18) 30 37% 96 40% 9v9 & 11v11 pitches Mini-Soccer U7 - U10 18 22% 98 42% 5v5 & 7v7 pitches TOTAL 82 100% 238 100%
In particular, it is striking that Mini-Soccer teams (aged U10) comprise 42% of all existing football teams based in Hart whilst Mini-Soccer pitches (5v5 and 7v7) make up just 20% of current pitch supply.
Current supply of artificial grass pitches and non-turf cricket wickets is summarised in Figure 2.4 below:
Figure 2.4: AGPs and NTPs AGPs/NTPs Cricket NTPs Football Hockey Rugby Full size 16 4 0 0 Under sized for n/a 3 5* adult league play TOTAL 28 16 7 5 0 * Two of which are also included in football
Supply issues for artificial playing surfaces include the high proportion of AGPs that are under- sized for adult league football (43%) and hockey and the impact on hockey of only one full size AGP pitch suitable for hockey in the District - Lord Wandsworth College.
According to the ‘Strategic Assessment of need for AGP Provision in Hart District Council’ (April 2015 FPM National Run Profile Report) shown in Figure 2.5, in comparison with other local authorities in Hampshire, Hart is undersupplied with AGPs. This is considered in more detail later on within the strategy.
Figure 2.5: Sport England FPM Supply per 10,000 Population South Basingstoke East Supply England Hart Rushmoor East & Deane Hants Supply – pitches per 10,000 0.36 0.41 0.32 0.17 0.59 0.52 of the population
Main Characteristics of current supply and demand
Cricket Overall, there are sufficient cricket pitches in the District to meet current demand.
The District is home to several large and successful cricket clubs with good quality pitch and ancillary facilities and an active cricket development group.
There has been significant recent investment in pitches and further investment is planned at Eversley Sports Association.
This facility and coaching infrastructure ensures that overall, there is a good level of opportunities for residents of Hart to learn and play cricket at all ages, both males and females.
An issue for the strategy is how best to respond to growth in demand for free to access facilities to play informal forms of the game. This is a growing feature of cricket demand nationally.
None of the cricket clubs based in Hart has expressed current plans for growth in adult teams. The NGB considers that the main source of growth in the game www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 11
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
in Hart will be in informal forms of game driven by growth in the size of the young population in particular. Significant levels of growth in junior cricket in the District will require more schools to support the game and provide open access to grass pitches on their playing fields.
Football Overall, in terms of quantity, there is sufficient accessible and secured community use provision to meet current and (known) future demand for football in the District as a whole (based on known population increases). Whilst current supply broadly meets current demand for traditional forms of adult league football, there are a number of displaced Hart based clubs that play their home matches in neighbouring boroughs. Fleet Spurs Youth is the most significant of these displaced clubs.
In line with the national picture, the number of men's senior league teams has declined slightly in the last three seasons. However, there are significant pressures on demand for access to good quality adult pitches at peak times, and there is evidence from the club survey returns that the lack of spare capacity of good quality pitches is restricting clubs from growing the number of teams.
Demand for access to youth and Mini-Soccer pitches is already high and continues to grow as evidenced by the survey returns of clubs indicating plans for up to a further 21 youth boys, 16 youth girls and 23 Mini-Soccer teams necessitating more access to suitable pitches - whether grass or 3G - particularly on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Where feasible, this additional capacity is needed on clubs' home sites to support their financial sustainability.
New provision for youth football is needed to meet this increasing demand.
The assessment of need also supports the case for provision of one more 3G AGP in Hart District of suitable specification for league competition. Where possible, investment in new or enhanced 3G facilities should be directed to multi pitch sites. On site management is key to this so that sporting value is maximised and revenues from the 3G AGP can be readily recycled into maintenance regimes and equipment to sustain the quality of the grass pitches.
Hockey There is evidence from the two clubs of unmet and latent demand. Yateley Hockey Club has identified potential to grow one additional senior men’s team, one senior women’s team, one junior boys and one junior girl’s teams.
Similarly, Fleet & Ewshot Hockey Club has plans to create four new teams (one boys, one girls) and two more senior teams (one men, one women).
It is most likely that all of the additional peak time demand that would result from this planned growth could be accommodated at the two planned league compliant AGPs at Eversley Sports Association and Calthorpe Park School, (the latter being primarily for schools use with potential for “overspill” use and subject to satisfactory accessibility arrangements).
For junior hockey development within the District, there would be sufficient capacity at these two new pitches to meet demand in the short and medium term, but both clubs will still rely on using facilities out of the District for competition in particular given the specification for Calthorpe School AGP.
The additional supply that would result from these projects would not be sufficient to cater for displaced demand from other neighbouring boroughs. Rugby At the start of the Playing Pitch Strategy process, there were currently no rugby union clubs in Hart. The RFU had identified that there were viable options for junior activity in Basingstoke / Chineham / Farnborough / Aldershot / Alton that they would promote before initiating a new club. The School Games Organiser (SGO) for North East Hants includes Hart Schools in their competition/festival programme which many of the primary and secondary www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 12
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
schools compete in. As a result, the RFU support the delivery of volunteer coaches from both Farnborough RFC and Aldershot & Fleet RFC in the county to help recruitment to their junior sections.
Currently, the RFU are working on a request for a new senior club in the District (Hook & Odiham RFC) who will need to fulfil a minimum of 12 games before being accepted into a league. The club is predominantly made up of forces players based at RAF Odiham, topped up with some other local residents. Whilst they currently train and play at Lord Wandsworth College, they utilise the changing rooms at the nearby cricket club, a more permanent home will be required should they be accepted into the league and then expand.
Figure 2.6 Distribution of Sub Areas in Hart District
Football Provision
Sub Area A: West Area (Wards: Eversley, Hartley Wintney, Hook, Odiham and Long Sutton)
There are 14 public grass football pitches in Sub Area A, the smallest number of any of the Sub Areas with only 17% of the total supply of pitches. Sub Area A is also geographically the largest area and has a population broadly equivalent to Sub Area B, which has nearly three times as many pitches. There are 1,500 adult males for every adult grass football pitch in Sub Area A. This reflects the essentially town based nature of football provision in Hart and that only two of the nine school sites are in Sub Area A.
Sub Area B: North East area (Wards: Yateley North, Yateley West, Yateley East, Frogmoor & Darby Green and Blackwater & Hawley)
Sub Area B has 37 of the 82 public grass football pitches, 45% of the total supply. This Sub Area has four of the nine schools, together with the major hubs at Eversley Sports Association (ESA) and Sean Devereux Park. Although it has the majority of pitches, this Sub Area has just under half of the population of Sub Areas A and C. There are 272 adult males for every adult grass football pitch in Sub Area B. www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 13
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Sub Area C: South East area (Wards: Fleet Pondtail, Fleet Central, Fleet West, Fleet Courtmoor, Church Crookham West and Church Crookham East)
This Sub Area has 31 grass football pitches and includes Calthorpe Park in Fleet and a number of local sites with two or more pitches (e.g. Cody Sports & Social Club on the district boundary with Rushmoor). There are 267 adult males for every adult grass football pitch in Sub Area B.
Cricket Provision In the 2015 season, 20 grass Cricket Squares and 16 outdoor Non-Turf Pitches (NTPs) were identified as available for community cricket use at 16 sites in Hart. Of these, two sites have separate names but are counted in this study as single sites (Eversley / Cross Green and Zebon Copse / Darby Green). Six of these sites are effectively closed to match games, but do accommodate a degree of practice and closed (School & Armed Services) use. One site outside of the District (Stratton Park) is used extensively by a major club in Hart – Hook & Newham Basics.
Cricket supply is relatively evenly spread across the sub-areas of the District with a more rural nature of provision for Hart evident from the map provided below.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 14
1. All Saints C of E Junior School 2. Ancells Farm 3. Basingbourne Park 4. Blackwater & Hawley Leisure Centre 5. Bramshill Police College 6. Calthorpe Park School 7. Calthorpe Park 8. Court Moor School 34 9. Cross Green !(! !( 43 37 10. Crown Taverners Cricket Club , !(! !(! !(! 9 !(! !( 11. Darby Green Playing fields , 39 44 12. Elvetham Heath 13 ! !(! !( !(! !( 13. Eversley Sports Association 45 , 14. Farnham Road Recreation Ground !(! !( 46 11 , ! !(! ! !( !( 15. Fleet Cricket Club 5 !( , ! 42 18 !( 17 16. Fleet Town Football and Social Club !(!!( 17. Frogmore Junior School , 18. Frogmore Leisure Centre !(,!!( 19. Gibraltar Barracks (Minley) 4 20. Hartletts Park !( 21. Hartley Wintney Cricket Green !(! !( ,!( 22. Hook Meadow 19 23. King George V Playing Field 24. Long Sutton Recreation Ground 25. Lord Wandsworth College 21 !(! !(! 10 !(! 26 2 FLEET !(! 40 !(! !(!!( !(! , 12 33 27 36 FARNBOROUGH !(! 20 !(! !(! 6 !( ! 15 28 !( !( 7 !(! !(! , !(! 41 ! !(! 16 ! !(! !( !( ! 1 !( 23 !( ! 38 !( !( ,!( !(! 8 3
!(,!!( 30 !(,! !( ALDERSHOT 32 !(! 35
!( 31 !(,!!(
!(! 22 29 !(! 24 !(,!!( 25 14 !( !(! !(! !( !(,!( FARNHAM 5 1 0 2
26. Memorial Ground 37. The Sean Devereux Park t h 27. North Wanborough Old Boys FC 38. The St John Ground g i r
28. Oakeley Park 39. The Zebon Copse Centre e s
a 29. Odiham and Greywell Cricket Club 40. Tylney Hall Hotel Leisure Club b
a 30. Peter Driver Sports Ground 41. Valmead Junior School t a
d 31. RAF Odiham Gymnasium 42. Westfields Junior School
d 32. Robert May's School 43. Yateley Cricket Club n a
33. Rotherwick Playing Fields 44. Yateley Green t h
g 34. St Neots Preparatory School 45. Yateleys Health and Fitness Gym i r 0 2 4 y km 35. St Nicholas' School 46. Yateley Manor School p E o 36. The Abercorn c n w o
r Hart Open Space, Sport and C District boundary Recreation Study ©
a Facility Type t a d !( y Artificial Grass Pitch Map 2 e v r Locations with multiple facility types Playing Pitches and AGPs u !( Cricket S e c !( Football n Source: Hart District Council, Continuum a n Sport & Leisure d !( Hockey r O
s !( Rugby n i a t n o Map Scale @ A4: 1:100,000 C CB:Green_C EB:Green_C LUCGLA 6242-01_069_Map2_Playing_Pitches_and_AGPs 11/11/2015 Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Proposed aspirational changes to supply As Housing development progresses in the District, site allocations for outdoor sport provision will be made under developer contribution arrangements (Section 106 Town & Country Planning Act 1990). One such site is to the North East of Hook – which could potentially accommodate the identified growth in rugby and the needs of football and cricket. Whilst no detailed proposals have been developed for this site, either in terms of size or sports to be accommodated, it is mentioned here as a proposal which feeds into the action plan in Section 5 for future development.
Figures 2.7, 2.8 and 2.9 below give the known aspirational development proposals for individual sports from consultations and site review meetings.
Figure 2.7: Proposed aspirational changes in supply - Cricket Cricket Sites Project Proposal Project Status Bramshill Police Sale of the site for redevelopment and it is not Sold College clear if the cricket facilities will be retained. Eversley Sports Expansion plans include additional senior and Aspirational and subject Association – Fox junior cricket pitches, additional outdoor cricket to funding Lane site - Cricket nets on the Fox Lane site. Fleet Cricket Club Ambitions to improve changing facilities to retain Aspirational and subject and grow membership. to funding Hartley Wintney CC Plans for a new second pitch to be funded from Undetailed proposal, new development developer contributions – St funding secured Mary’s Park site. (requirement of S106 agreement) Odiham & Greywell Plans to purchase additional land to create a Aspirational and subject CC second square and reduce their reliance on to funding playing home games on other sites. Yateley Cricket Club Plans to improve the outfield at Sean Devereux Aspirational and subject Park to enable them to gain promotion in the to funding league.
Figure 2.8: Proposed aspirational changes in supply - Football Football Sites Project Proposal Project Status Bramshill Police Sale of the site for redevelopment and it is not Sold College clear if the football facilities will be retained. Eversley Sports Provision will cover a number of sports (see Aspirational (except the Association cricket above and hockey below), as well as hockey) and subject to aspirations of 5-a-side AGPs, additional grass funding football pitches and additional parking. Eversley & California Expansion plans include the development of a Aspirational and subject FC new clubhouse, more grass football pitches and to funding improved parking and access.
(NB. The club are a member and are based at Eversley Sports Association as above, but these are separate unfunded proposals led by the club.) Fleet Town FC 2015 is the club's 125th Anniversary Year Aspirational and subject (founded 1890) and plans an appeal to replace the to funding existing boardroom building at the ground and to refurbish the existing changing room facilities. Hart Leisure Centre The proposed development at Hart Leisure Centre Detailed proposal, (Fleet) will have two new junior grass football pitches, a funding secured full size floodlit 3G AGP and four five-a-side 3G AGPs.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 16
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Hartley Wintney The club is currently researching costs for Aspirational and subject Football Club drainage of the main grass football pitch at the to funding Memorial Playing Fields, Hartley Wintney. Hartley Wintney One new grass football pitch is due to be available Detailed proposal, Junior Football Club within next two years. The funding for the pitch funding secured has been secured, but the operating costs have not. George V Playing Field The Council are currently undertaking drainage Detailed proposal, (Hook) improvement works to an additional piece of land funding secured that will create three additional junior football pitches. Yateley Health and This is a large site only partially in use for grass Aspirational and subject Fitness Centre pitches and has potential to provide a pitch for any to funding emerging demand for rugby (1 x adult) and to help meet the need for more football pitches (2 x junior). This would also require reconfiguration of entrance and access. Yateley United FC The club want to develop Sean Devereux Park Aspirational and subject which the club now owns. Initially, the club wish to funding to concentrate on improving the quality/drainage and layout of the grass football pitches, but subsequently plan for a new clubhouse and floodlights.
Figure 2.9: Proposed Changes in Supply – Hockey Hockey Sites Project Proposal Project Status Eversley Sports Expansion plans include plans for a new floodlit Detailed proposal, Association full sized sand-based AGP funding secured
Changes to pitch supply in neighbouring boroughs Basingstoke & Deane have plans to develop an additional floodlit full size AGP for hockey at Basingstoke Hockey Club.
Distribution of playing pitch supply As detailed in Section 1.2, it was originally agreed by the Steering Group that data would be collected on the basis of three areas and then decide whether the summary and recommendations would be against these three areas, or presented for the District as a whole. The Steering Group concluded that this would be the latter.
Current demand for playing pitches in Hart generated by affiliated clubs for competitive match play and training is summarised in Figure 2.10 and players in Figure 2.11:
Figure 2.10 Current Demand Clubs NGB affiliated Cricket Football Hockey Rugby clubs TOTAL CLUBS 10 32 2 0 Senior Teams 47 44 19 0 Youth Teams 72 96 16 0 Minis Teams - 98 - 0 TOTAL TEAMS 119 238 35 0
Figure 2.11 Current Demand Players Club players Cricket* Football** Hockey*** Rugby Senior Male Players 3,852 0 Senior Female Players 90 0 Youth Male Players 3,452 0 Youth Female Players 423 0 Minis 926 0 TOTAL PLAYERS - 8,777 454 0 * No figures available as the ECB / Hants Cricket base their needs on the number of teams as the main focus for provision and planning. www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 17
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
**Estimated from team numbers using FA agreed formula *** Figure from England Hockey
This Strategy follows the Sport England guidance advocating an overview of the current picture of supply and later drawing conclusions as to its adequacy to address current and future demand taking into account the full range of factors that are relevant to the balance of supply against demand. These include quantity, quality, distribution, ownership and security of access, changes in population, changes in the way games are played (e.g. small sided versions of the sports) and demand trends. It is not advocated that a simple measure of the number of teams relates to a definitive number of pitches then set against the current provision. The findings and conclusions from this analysis are set out later in this section of the strategy as well as in the sport specific assessment of needs reports in the appendices.
Latent Demand The strategy looks later at the impact of the population increases on the demands for each sport and the increases on demand for each of the leading pitch sports. Alongside this growth in teams and the need for suitable provision, clubs have also been asked about their membership growth (or reduction) which has influenced the needs identified within this strategy (see unmet demand later in this section).
The strategy also considers the current levels of latent demand which refers to the propensity of the population in Hart to want to do more sport, based on Sport England research and related to the population characteristics of Hart.
Latent demand for playing pitch sports in Hart District varies between sports. Assessing levels of latent demand in the District was done predominantly through consultation with sports clubs who were asked to identify issues with provision, reviewing population and participation data with age groups relevant to particular sports and information from NGBs on participation trends and local demand.
Sport England's Market Segmentation data shows high representation in the District of young adult SMS Groups 'Jamie', 'Leanne', 'Jackie', 'Kev' and 'Paula'. These Groups are aged 18-25 and are characterised as wanting to participate in the major playing pitch sports of football, cricket, hockey and rugby. This information is summarised below:
Cricket Cricket - Sport England's Market Segmentation data shows high representation in the District of adult segment Groups 'Jamie', 'Ben', 'Tim' and 'Philip'. The national picture for cricket participation for the period October 2011 to October 2013 shows participation for years 16+ of 0.34%, a decrease on past trends. The same figure nationally for the 14- 25 age groups was significantly higher at 1.29%. This drops to 0.24% for over 26 year olds, a better retention rate than other sports.
Football Sport England's Sports Market Segmentation data shows high representation in the District of young adult SMS Groups 'Jamie', 'Ben', 'Tim', 'Kev' and 'Philip'. Most of these Groups are aged 18-25 and are characterised as wanting to participate in football.
Hockey Sport England's Market Segmentation data shows a much wider representation in the district of adult SMS Groups wishing to play Hockey. These included 'Jamie', 'Ben', ‘Chloe’ ‘Helena’ 'Tim', 'Alison' and 'Philip'. Although characterised as wanting to participate, the numbers are currently below 100 in any group. The national picture for Hockey participation for the period October 2011 to October 2013 shows participation for years 16+ of 0.20%, a slight decrease on past trends. The same figure nationally for the 14- 25 age groups was significantly higher at 0.9%. This drops to 0.12% for over 26 year olds.
Rugby Union Sport England's Market Segmentation data again shows high representation in the District of young adult SMS Groups 'Jamie', 'Ben', 'Tim', 'Kev' and 'Philip'. Most of these Groups are aged 18-25 and are characterised as wanting to participate in rugby union, but at numbers amounting to around 20% of those inclined to play football.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 18
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Casual Demand Less organised forms of casual play for cricket are a growing feature of cricket demand nationally, particularly among teenagers and young adults in the Black and Asian minority ethnic (BME) communities. The Asian community is well represented in club memberships (e.g. Crown Taverners) and a mainstay of their team provision. It should be noted that the development of casual use, which may lead to greater involvement in the sport, is seen by Hampshire Cricket Board as being based on semi-formal games utilising non-turf wickets for shorter forms of the game, led again by clubs, at appropriate club sites.
For football pitches located in parks within Hart the site visits noted a lot of wear and mounding to the goal mouths (where sand etc. has been laid to compensate for over-use). This was evident at most of the pitches located on parks. This reflects the availability of facilities for these sports at no cost in open access parks and trends towards informal participation and shorter forms of competition. The main issues raised by this informal demand for the strategy is how to adjust maintenance and management strategies to address the wear and tear caused by informal play on any pitches which are in demand for hired use at weekends for league matches.
Casual demand for hockey and less formal types of play (e.g. Rush) is at a low level. This is likely to be due in part to the need to access an AGP to play and the limited availability of sand- based AGPs in the District.
Informal games of rugby (touch and tag) are not a significant feature of demand in the District at present.
Displaced Demand In the consultations carried out, displaced demand was identified - i.e. teams from clubs based in Hart using grounds in neighbouring boroughs for home fixtures. For example, Hook & Newnham Basics Cricket Club requires a regular booking of pitches in a neighbouring borough (at Stratton Park in Basingstoke). All cricket clubs have confirmed that the majority of their club's players live within Hart. Displaced demand for cricket and rugby is not identified as a significant issue in the District and in turn for the strategy.
The data also indicates that 30 teams at Hart-based football clubs play on pitches in neighbouring boroughs (e.g. Basingstoke & Deane and Rushmoor). Fleet Spurs Youth is the most significant of these displaced clubs. Whilst this is an indicator of an undersupply of suitable quality grass pitches in the District, there may also be an undersupply in neighbouring boroughs as Hart’s grass pitches accommodate a significant element of 'imported' demand - i.e. displaced demand from neighbouring boroughs.
All “home” Hockey matches for Hart based clubs, with the exception of some practice sessions, takes place outside the District.
Unmet Demand Based on Sport England’s data, national trends for all four pitch sports (in their traditional formats) are showing some areas of decline. However, participation amongst younger people, the main growth population groups in Hart, is growing. The Council and NGBs have done much in recent years to stimulate new interest in sport, and there is clear evidence of latent and unmet demand in the borough for young people wishing to play sports from consultation and data from the NGBs reflecting the national trends.
Cricket: None of the cricket clubs based in the District has expressed current plans for growth in adult teams. Most clubs reports either a stable number or a decline in the number of adult men's teams in recent seasons and an increase in U11s demand. Most clubs who have plans to increase the number of their teams are focussing on youth teams.
Football: Several football clubs based in Hart have self-reported plans for new teams in the next few seasons. Club survey responses indicate unmet demand for 13 senior teams, 21 youth boys’ teams, 16 youth girls’ team and 23 Mini-Soccer teams. E.g. Fleet Spurs plan five new youth girls’ teams plus five Mini-Soccer teams. Eversley and California FC plan one additional adult men’s team, one adult women’s team, five youth boys’ teams, five youth girls’ teams and five Mini-Soccer teams. The majority of survey respondents consider they have identified venues with spare capacity at weekends to accommodate this demand. E.g. Fleet Spurs will accommodate these teams at Kennels Lane Southwood (out of District in Rushmoor), Eversley and California have identified spare capacity at their home ground. However these expected
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 19
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
growth figures would put pressure on these existing sites as well as the need to address the need for investment such as Eversely and California FC.
For match play and training for all age groups there is a need to secure more FA compliant floodlit 3G AGPs (with secured access agreements) on managed sites with good quality changing and social facilities. This will have the benefit of reducing reliance on open access park pitches where it is difficult to maintain pitch quality and cleanliness (from dog fouling) and to sustain ancillary facilities.
On the basis there are 238 teams playing competitive football in Hart, the strategy through Hampshire FA analysis, identifies a need for at least 4 full size 3G AGPs in Hart to meet the training needs of these clubs. Currently, there is the equivalent of three full size floodlit accessible 3G AGP’s in Hart leaving a shortfall of one full size pitch. This will be addressed through the provision of one full size 3G AGP at Hart Leisure Centre and one full size 3G AGP at Calthorpe Park School. Any initial consideration that this represents an oversupply for Hart is likely to be very short lived as the Council and its partners look to provide for the future and Hampshire FA continue to work with the community clubs to decant a high proportion of junior football onto 3G AGPs.
Hockey: Club membership is growing in both the senior and the junior age groups (where two youth teams have been established due to work done through the schools) and is likely to improve with the establishment of the new sand based AGP in the District.
Both of the hockey clubs based fully or partly in Hart have plans for growth. Yateley Hockey Club has identified potential to grow one additional senior men’s team, one senior women’s team, one junior boys and one junior girls’ team. Similarly, Fleet & Ewshot Hockey Club has plans to create four new teams (one senior men’s team, one senior women’s team, one junior boys and one junior girls’ team).
Further provision of hockey AGP capacity at peak weekend times will be needed to accommodate this future unmet demand.
Rugby: Whilst there are no rugby clubs based in the District currently (at the time of this report), the RFU have identified plans for growth in the District to cater for unmet demand and one new club (Hook & Odiham RFC) is partially established in the area, having secured a pitch at Lord Wandsworth School as their home ground for 2016. It is likely demand will grow at mini and youth age groups as a result of England hosting the 2015 World Cup and the Women’s world cup win in 2014.
Further detailed analysis for AGP provision is provided in Appendix D attached to this strategy.
Is there enough Cricket: YES. Overall, there are sufficient cricket pitches in the District to meet current accessible and demand. Security of access is a concern at three sites; Bramshill Police College and Cody Sports secured & Social Club (due to ownership and tenure issues) and Crown Taverners CC where, currently, community use there is only cricket activity due to the generosity of club members. There is no changing in provision to the pavilion and a porta-cabin is in use. This site is leased from the MOD and the club are meet current considering surrendering their lease at the end of the current term. These sites are considered demand? as at risk of permanent loss for cricket. The Action Plan must consider potential sites for the replacement of Bramshill Police College as a matter of immediate need and for Crown Taverners and Cody Sports & Social Club should this prove necessary.
A lack of take up of pitch capacity at Parish Council public park pitches is a concern as the Parish Councils who own these sites cannot justify the investment by their Council and partners in providing pitches for infrequent or casual bookings. However, this does not mean that the pitches are at risk of being lost, rather that the Parish Councils are not providing capacity for ad hoc use by teams (additional maintenance and booking / availability). It is important to note that casual demand is currently low in Hart and is not a pressing issue however increasing access to the game and widening the offer, accommodating potential additional fixtures would need to be well planned and delivered in partnership with the Parish Councils.
Football: YES. Overall, in terms of quantity, there is sufficient accessible and secured community use provision to meet current demand for football in the District as a whole, www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 20
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
although distribution of pitches is unbalanced with fewer pitches in the west of the District. Whilst current supply broadly meets current demand for traditional forms of adult league football, there are a number of displaced Hart based clubs that play their home matches in neighbouring boroughs. Fleet Spurs Youth is the most significant of these displaced clubs.
In line with the national picture, the number of men's senior league teams has declined slightly in the last three seasons. However, there are significant pressures on demand for access to good quality adult grass pitches at peak times, and there is some evidence from the club survey returns that lack of spare capacity of quality pitches is restricting clubs from growing the number of teams.
Demand for access to youth and Mini-Soccer pitches is already high and continues to grow as evidenced by the survey returns of clubs which indicate plans for up to a further 21 youth boys, 16 youth girls and 23 Mini-Soccer teams necessitating more access to suitable pitches - whether grass or 3G - particularly on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Where feasible, this additional capacity is needed on clubs' home sites to support their financial sustainability.
The introduction of 5v5 size grass pitches in recent seasons for the U7 and U8 age groups has increased the wear of key sites for Mini-Soccer and youth football. As a result, for youth football and Mini-Soccer, there is a lot of pressure on existing grass pitches at some sites (e.g. Yateley Health and Fitness Centre) leading to over-marking small sided pitches on larger pitches and overplay.
Hockey: NO. Current demand for league hockey (senior and youth) and for junior development is not met by current supply within Hart District. The main pitches used by the clubs are based outside the District and is therefore displaced/exported demand.
There is also a concern as to the security of access to pitches for community hockey. The pitches used by the two active Hart community clubs are on independent school sites and an MOD site. Whilst neither club has identified an issue of continued access, it would appear security is limited to term-by-term block bookings in season.
Rugby: No Although there is no current demand for competitive rugby (senior and youth) this may well be because latent demand cannot be met by current supply. However, a number of the pitches are currently being considered in relation to their potential to accommodate league matches.
Is the provision Cricket: YES. The quality of supply is very good with 80% of pitches being rated ‘Good’, with that is only seven publicly accessible pitches being rated as ‘Standard’. The only poor rated grass accessible of wickets in Hart at Cody SSC are rarely used since the Pyestock CC left, although in some cases, sufficient the outfields could be improved (e.g. Sean Devereux Park). Most of these are in parks or on quality and school sites where, in most cases, the quality of ancillary changing facilities is also ‘Standard’. appropriately maintained? Overall, there are no significant issues of quality and maintenance of the fine turf pitches in club sites or at the pitches at schools. Lack of sufficient financial resources for adequate pitch maintenance within clubs is an issue at a number of the cricket sites in the District. There are several examples of high quality pitches and ancillary facilities - e.g. at The Green (Hartley Witney) and King George V Playing Field (Hook). The outfield at Sean Devereux Park (Yateley) is currently uneven and requires enhancement.
Where management of park cricket facilities is devolved to cricket/sports specialists (responsible for promotion, bookings and maintenance of the square), expressed demand is greater and the quality is higher.
Football: Yes. The quality of supply is good with only 3% of the available grass pitches rated as poor. There are no serious issues of quality and maintenance at football sites or at schools and sports clubs. A trend has been identified towards a lack of sufficient resources for adequate pitch maintenance by Town and Parish Councils and this is also an issue for maintenance of changing facilities at a number of the football sites in the District. Where management of park/recreation ground football facilities is devolved to clubs (under lease or license) these are maintained to a much higher quality e.g. Eversley Sports Association. It is apparent that the quality of pitches and changing rooms are factors that impact on pitch demand in sites where the quality is better, particularly for changing. www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 21
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Hockey: YES. The AGPs hired by both clubs outside the District are of good quality, with the one hired by Fleet and Ewshot being new in 2014. These AGPs are well maintained by the independent schools and MOD that own these facilities. However, there are some issues with the quality of changing at the Army Hockey Centre in Aldershot.
Rugby: During the course of the pitch inspections, Lord Wandsworth College was identified as a potential site for use by any emerging rugby football club in Hart with Hook and Odiham Rugby Club emerging as a notable future opportunity as detailed previously with support from the RFU.
What are the Assuming current team generation rates in each sport, the forecast population growth will main potentially generate demand for the following additional teams shown in Figures 2.12, 2.13 and characteristics 2.14: of the future supply and demand for Figure 2.12: Future Demand - Cricket provision? Age Group No. cricket Pop in age Pop in age Current Pop change Potential teams 2014 group 2014 group 2032 Team in age change in Generation group cricket Rate team no's Open Age 43 23,490 23,809 546 319 +0.6 Men’s Open Age 4 23,198 23,828 5,800 630 +0.1 Women’s Junior Boys 64 7,353 8,520 115 1,167 +10.2 Junior Girls 8 6,847 7,911 856 1,064 +1.2
Figure 2.12 shows that in the period to 2032, there will be insufficient population growth across the District to generate any additional adult teams. An additional ten junior boys teams and one girls team will be generated in this period. It will therefore be important to protect access to the existing pitches and seek opportunities where they arise (e.g. to enhance the quality of changing at Calthorpe Park and the Sean Devereux Park outfield, which is currently rated as poor) or opportunities for additional provision (e.g. create additional capacity at Odiham & Greywell Cricket Club). The strategic approach should be to focus on protecting existing playing fields, securing access for cricket at those sites where cricket is at risk, and enhancing those pitches and practice facilities currently in use where most needed.
Figure 2.13: Future Demand - Football Age Group No. Pop in age Pop in age Current Pop change Potential football group 2014 group 2032 Team in age change in teams 2015 Generation group football Rate team no's Adult male 40 17,407 18,550 435 1143 +2.6 Adult female 4 17,010 17,907 4,253 897 +0.2 Youth boys 89 3,633 4,291 41 658 +16 Youth girls 7 3,336 4,014 477 678 +1.4 Mini-Soccer 98 4,961 5,269 51 308 +6.1
There is a high level of growth anticipated by the clubs, particularly in the number of youth and Mini-Soccer teams, which is supported by the population growth to 2032 shown in Figure 2.12. When combined with the existing team growth plans of clubs to cater for unmet demand, it is evident that the District needs to protect existing playing field provision and seek to increase playing capacity on existing pitch sites. This should be through a combination of quality enhancement and new provision (particularly of 3G AGPs able to accommodate multiple games in the peak period) over the period of the strategy.
The structural changes of organised forms of the game at youth and Mini-Soccer level continue to impact on demand for grass pitches and the need to over-mark 5v5 and 7v7 pitches on 9v9 and 11v11 pitches. These changes when combined with demand growth will result in increasing www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 22
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
over-play of some sites. The financial pressures on clubs dictate that they strive to accommodate all games on their home ground to maximise income from catering and minimise pitch hire costs.
Opportunities to secure more community access to school pitches for youth and Mini-Soccer, particularly in the under-supplied west of the District should be pursued. The need to accommodate the additional youth and mini football for example would require the equivalent of 2 youth / junior (7 v 7 / 9 v 9) pitches and 1 mini-soccer pitch (5 v 5) which should be achievable within the current stock of schools (if available) or through the development of the AGP projects. It should be noted that the survey responses indicate a much higher number of teams being planned, however the strategy follows the Sport England methodology for team generation rates based on known population changes. The annual review process would need to assess the impact from one season to the next of the reported growth projected by clubs and the actual new teams that have been formed and sustained.
Figure 2.14: Future Demand - Hockey Age Group No. hockey Pop in age Pop in age Current Pop change Potential teams 2014 group 2014 group 2032 Team in age change in Generation group hockey Rate team no's Senior Men 12 24,755 25,287 2,063 532 +0.26 (16-55yrs) Senior 7 24,330 25,180 3,476 850 +0.24 Women (16- 55yrs) Junior Boys 8 2,975 3,587 372 612 +1.6 (11-15yrs) Junior Girls 8 2,743 3,347 343 604 +1.8 (11-15yrs)
Population growth predicted to 2032 is insufficient to justify additional provision as shown in Figure 2.14. However, this limited potential demand driven by population growth needs to be considered in relation to the growth planned by the two clubs in the District to address current unmet and latent demand and the need to provide suitable Hart Based pitches for hockey. Growth will be driven primarily through the current developments planned by the two clubs in the District to address known unmet demand. An additional AGP pitch suitable for hockey is proposed at Eversley Sports Association as part of their wider development proposals. This future planned provision, together with the existing and future planned number of teams in the District, has the potential to provide additional capacity to assist in meeting some of the future demand. This should start to address the current imbalance between hockey supply and demand in the District.
Rugby: There are no rugby union clubs in Hart and therefore no opportunities to develop the game at junior level to secure clubs for the future. The RFU has identified viable options for junior activity in Basingstoke / Chineham / Farnborough / Aldershot / Alton that they would promote to develop junior rugby in Hart. The RFU are also currently working to develop the new senior club in the District, Hook & Odiham RFC (at Lord Wandsworth School). They currently have 40+ members and have an agreement in place to play their ‘home’ fixtures at Lord Wandsworth College and to use Odiham & Greywell Cricket Club as a social base and changing for their first season.
Hook Parish Council are looking at opportunities for a permanent home for the rugby club either through new land that might become available or the possibility of the site at NE Hook accommodating multiple sports as long as maintenance costs could be resolved. Is there enough Cricket: YES. The falling trend in demand for formal forms of adult cricket, together with low accessible and levels of additional demand resulting from the population growth in the District to 2032 will secured mean that the existing supply will be adequate for future needs. This remains the case in the community use light of a potential increase of 11 junior teams at current participation rates. There is however, provision to not enough accessible and secured provision of facilities for free informal games of cricket to meet future demand. Whilst, this could be met by the provision of more NTPs and net-systems
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 23
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
meet future equipped for cricket in accessible open spaces or on school sites with community access, the demand? ECB / Hampshire Cricket Board have said that these should be based on club sites to facilitate the growth of the game around clubs.
Football: NO. To meet future demand, there will be a need to increase the supply of facilities for youth football and Mini-Soccer in particular in accessible locations within the District, and on school sites with community access in the west of the District where there is lower level of current supply. The assessment of need also supports the case for provision of one more 3G AGP in Hart District of suitable specification for league match play. Where possible, investment in new or enhanced 3G facilities should be directed to multi pitch sites. On site management is key to this so that sporting value is maximised and revenues from the 3G AGP can be readily recycled into maintenance regimes and equipment to sustain the quality of the grass pitches. This should be addressed through the proposed new 3G pitch at Hart Leisure Centre. All existing pitches are needed to satisfy demand. Therefore, none have been identified as surplus.
Hockey: NO. The scale of forecast for future demand and the current lack of secured access to existing sites indicate that future demand will not be met. Both hockey clubs based in Hart have plans for growth, both plan to expand by a combined total of a further eight new teams over the next few seasons (four senior and four youth). Further provision of hockey AGP capacity at peak weekend times will be needed to accommodate this unmet demand. However, the proposed full sized pitch at Calthorpe Park School and the additional AGP proposed at Eversley Sports Association should balance hockey supply and demand within the District. Central to this will be the new pitch at Eversley Sports Association. The proposed pitch at Calthorpe Park School has potential to meet some future demand should this be secured, but is not seen as vital to the future supply due to its final specification.
Rugby: NO. To meet future demand, there will be a need to increase the supply of facilities for rugby in accessible locations within the District. The minimum requirement would be for 2 pitches to provide a more permanent home for the new club Hook and Odiham RFC. This is however dependent on the success of the newly established club activity for the 2016 season. Future provision of rugby would need to be reviewed following on from the 2016 season in 2017 as part of the required PPS review process and the need to provide any additional pitch provision.
What is the Quality of playing pitches in the Hart District is generally good as shown in Figures 2.15 and overall quality 2.16: level? Figure 2.15: Overview of Pitch Quality – Grass Pitches Pitch Quality Cricket Football Rugby* Grass Pitches No. % No. % D0 % D1 % D2 D3 Good (M2 rugby) 17 85 47 61 0 0 2 24 0 0 0 0 Standard (M1 rugby) 3 15 28 36 1 13 5 63 0 0 0 0 Poor (M0 rugby) 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 *M2 (good maintenance) and D3 (pipe and slit drained) is highest pitch quality rating for rugby. M0 = action is significant improvements to maintenance programme / M1 = action is minor improvements to maintenance programme / M2 = action is no improvement to maintenance programme D0 - action is pipe drainage system needed on pitch / D1 - action is pipe and slit drainage needed on pitch / D2 - action is slit drainage needed on pitch / D3 - no action needed on pitch drainage
A number of the operational playing field sites (or specific pitches on these sites) in the District are particularly prone to flooding in prolonged periods of wet winter weather. These sites / pitches include Sean Devereux Park, which is a major venue for junior football in Hart. The pitches on this site, and others, were in good condition when inspected, but periods of wet weather could easily result in a rapid deterioration in their quality over a short timescale. This is a low lying site and additional drainage is unlikely to provide a permanent solution.
Hartley Wintney Memorial Park also has severe drainage issues and Hartletts Park, which is public land, has issues with dog fouling, litter and glass. Pitches 2, 3 & 4 all have drainage issues and Hook United Juniors have struggled to host matches because of this.
The best quality pitches are the full sized youth and full sized adult pitches. Smaller sized pitches are generally of a poorer quality which may be a reflection of their position, i.e. on the
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 24
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
periphery of main pitches, and of the maintenance regime, i.e. these pitches may not be seen as a high priority for maintenance.
Figure 2.16: Overview of Pitch Quality – AGPs/NTPs Pitch Quality Cricket Football Hockey Rugby AGPs/NTPs No. % No. % No. % No. % Good 5 50 6 59 3 100 0 0 Standard 4 40 1 35 0 0 0 0 Poor 1 10 0 6 0 0 0 0
The NTP cricket pitches at Rotherwick Playing Fields, and at Sean Devereux Park are neglected and of poor quality. Those at Blackwater and Hawley Leisure Centre and Yateley Health and Fitness Centre are of standard quality, but need more attention to maintenance if they are not to deteriorate.
Quality of Ancillary Facilities The quality of ancillary facilities is lower than grass pitches in most cases. However, the majority of ancillary facilities (changing etc.) as shown in Figure 2.17 below are still good. In some cases, e.g. Crown Taverners Cricket Club, the changing facilities are of a longstanding temporary nature, and are poor as a result. An example of poor public changing is at Basingbourne Park, where there is a single football pitch with very poor changing facilities.
Figure 2.17: Overview of Ancillary Facilities Quality Sub Area A % Sub Area B % Sub Area C % Total % Pitches Ancillary Pitches Ancillary Pitches Ancillary Pitches Ancillary Good 74 59 61 90 53 31 61 47 Standard 26 33 34 10 47 47 37 44 Poor - 8 5 - - 22 2 9
Few facilities (9%) are rated as poor and 47% of ancillary facilities are rated as good, with 44% being rated standard.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 25
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
3. Scenario Analysis
As part of the methodology for the Playing Pitch Strategy, the Steering Group determined a number of possible scenarios that could impact on the supply and demand of playing pitches in Hart. These are described below, together with their implications and possible actions where necessary. It should be noted that these scenarios need to be firstly understood in relation to a number of constraints and unknowns:
1. Parish Councils now manage most of the grass pitches within the parks in Hart. There is a variance in the capacity of Parish Councils to maintain grass pitches and also to provide wider promotion of the sites and sport. As such, the Council will need to work with the Parish councils to ensure that the quality measure for their sites are (where required) enhanced and maintained. The Council’s policy to devolve the management of public spaces and pitches to Parish Councils has, on the whole, been successful, but variations in quality, arising from different local agendas, are inevitable. The evidence to date from the pitch inspections is that quality has been maintained, but there have been reports from some clubs of a deterioration linked to a lack of funding. This will need to be continually monitored with the Council working in partnership with the Parish Councils.
2. There is a possibility that Hart will need to increase its housing target above its own objectively assessed housing needs in order to accommodate unmet housing needs arising elsewhere in the Hart / Rushmoor / Surrey Heath housing market area. At the time of this study being prepared the Council had yet to decide how many extra homes Hart would need to plan for, but clearly if housing growth increases, then the predicted population growth will also increase with potential consequences for playing pitch demand. The policy recommendations in Section 4 and the resulting standards approach will need to be carefully considered in light of this given the likely impact on the demand for sports facilities and the pressure on the existing supply.
What if? Potential Impact on Supply/Demand Balance A change to the provision Although current supply balances demand across most of the District, any reduction of school pitch sites for in the provision of school pitches for community sport would have a negative impact community sport. on the supply and demand balance.
The use of school pitches is already a vital part of the supply of pitches in Hart. There are twelve major schools sites in the District that offer pitch facilities to community football clubs and teams to hire for organised play or training and they represent an important element of supply. Although such pitches are only available out of hours, they are used on a regular basis for league matches and practice.
On these sites there is the provision of 31 pitches (three cricket, 18 football -one adult, 17 junior, five AGPS and five rugby) from the supply in Hart. This represents 26% of the current supply and would have serious implications for the sports if there was a reduction in this supply (and it was not mitigated against).
Given the pressure of population rises and the need of junior football and rugby (as detailed earlier in the strategy), the opening up current school sites which have pitches which do not have community access would be very positive for the District.
At present the only available rugby pitches that could be used by a fledgling Rugby Union Club are on school sites further highlighting the importance of this part of the supply for Hart.
Also for future provision, if new schools do not provide community access to pitches, there will be an issue of finding sufficient land and making the case for developer contributions to make up any shortfall for new populations associated with new developments within Hart related to the impact of any population rise.
Increasing use on current sites would potentially result in a fall in standards of quantity across the District and planned Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) / Section 106 contributions must take account of this possibility.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 26
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
What if? Potential Impact on Supply/Demand Balance The plans at Calthorpe Park School for a new short pile 3G AGP will, if made accessible to the community, add an additional resource to the current supply of AGP pitches which is seen as very positive. There is a reduction in This scenario is a real risk both for the Parish Council maintained sites (as a maintenance budgets for consequence of financial pressures on local government) and for sites maintained by some sites. academy schools and by community clubs.
If maintenance budgets reduce then the quality of pitches will fall. If the quality of pitches falls, then their capacity to accommodate matches will also fall. For example, a drop in standard of maintenance on an adult football pitch from “good” to “poor” would mean a fall in number of adult matches that could be played on that pitch from three per week to one per week. The equivalent of the loss of two full sized pitches. By providing and understanding the impact of a reduction in maintenance budgets, the PPS can ensure that Parish and Town Councils are encouraged to protect their ground maintenance budgets.
At present, the evidence of inspection suggests that standards are being maintained, but clubs have reported discrepancies between different Parish Councils in funding maintenance. In the case of cricket, much of the burden of maintenance already falls to club members and this pattern may be repeated in other sports if financial restrictions continue. For some cricket clubs this has led to difficult financial decisions and the loss of one club.
The appendices attached to this main strategy report rate each pitch site. Specific sites which are currently heavily used and considered as overplayed include only cricket sites – The Green, Hartley Wintney and Odiham & Greywell (which are both rated as a good pitch). If maintenance regimes are reduced, heavily used pitches would deteriorate, reducing quality and capacity as stated above. It is important that these key sites can maintain the level of quality. If sites are showing signs of deterioration then support from the NGBs on pitch improvement programmes (as referenced later in this section on the policy issues) should be sought.
Implications of the loss The sale of Bramshill Police College to property developers means that there is a of sites identified as at real risk of permanent loss of playing field land and thus a reduction in the overall risk supply of one cricket pitch, bowling green and a separate playing field with space for three full size winter sports pitches should alternative provision not be identified. The Bramshill Police College site is used by Hook United Youth for several of its youth teams.
Cody Sports & Social Club's lease from the site owners is believed to have expired although the site continues to operate for community sport (predominantly football and bowls) and for social activities. Crookham Rovers Youth currently use this site extensively (as one of four pitch venues) to support mini soccer and youth football including matches on Saturdays and Sundays and evening training on the floodlit pitch on three evenings a week. Adult clubs also hire the main pitch for weekend afternoon matches (e.g. Rustwood FC based in Rushmoor Borough).
Should these playing pitch facilities not be retained, then suitable replacements (as per Sport England’s ‘Equivalent Quality Assessment of Natural Turf Playing Fields’ Briefing Note) should be identified and developer contributions should be set aside to finance the facilities.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 27
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
4. Policy Recommendations
4.1 Introduction This Section of the Playing Pitch Strategy sets out a number of overarching policy recommendations that the Steering Group and Hart District Council are to apply over the duration of this strategy. This will ensure that this essential planning document continues to play a leading role in the on-going provision of high quality facilities for outdoor sport and can meet the needs and demands highlighted throughout this strategy.
The policy recommendations also include a quality standard to account for the demand for better quality playing pitch facilities evidence in this strategy as well as to ensure that the impact of the potential growth in population on the quality of the current facility stock is addressed and reduced where possible.
The Council currently has a number of saved polices for the protection of open spaces including playing fields and to ensure that new open spaces are provided for in new developments. This Playing Pitch Strategy will help assist the application of those policies as well as informing new local plan polices currently being prepared.
RUR 35 - Social infrastructure and services states “The local planning authority wishes to ensure that the existing level of provision is maintained and, where necessary, improved or provided to meet the needs of the rural population. As far as possible, new facilities should be located in or on the edge of the rural centre that is closest to the majority of the clients served by the facility and this will normally be the largest settlement within the catchment area.”
URB 21 - Loss of amenity and recreation open space states “In view of existing deficiencies in both active and passive open space provision in Hart, it is essential that existing open space be protected from unrelated development and that proposals for further open space are not jeopardised. Considerations to be taken into account will include local need for open space, the present amenity for the area and the desirability of using urban land efficiently. This Policy shall not override the requirements of the local education authority to use part of a school's open space to increase the school building area for the proper provision of education facilities.”
Open space requirements with new developments states the following: “The provision of additional recreational facilities in conjunction with new housing development cannot and should not be met from public funds alone. The provision of open space should be programmed and new development should contribute towards this provision.
New Open Space Standards are currently being produced for Hart District Council which will need to be reviewed alongside the Playing Pitch Strategy and coordination with key sites of importance within the District for both sport and general access and amenity.
This Playing Pitch Strategy provides a robust evidence base of need across the whole of Hart District and meets the needs of the above policy through having undertaken an assessment of supply which evaluates the quantity and quality of existing facilities in the locality and an assessment of need and value to the community.
Under the emerging Local Plan policies, the council will work positively with Parish and Town Councils, communities, including local voluntary organisations, and support proposals to develop, retain, improve or re-use community, leisure or cultural facilities, including those set out in Neighbourhood Plans/Orders including Community Right to Build Orders, along with the appropriate supporting development which may make such provision economically viable. The Playing Pitch Strategy contributes to the evidence base for the retention and protection of playing pitches as part of the leisure offer in Hart.
4.2 Protect, Enhance and Provide The recommendations of this Playing Pitch Strategy (and the assessment which sit behind this strategy) for Hart District Council are made in the context of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Paragraph 74.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 28
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields, should not be built on unless:
o an assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the open space, buildings or land to be surplus to requirements; or o the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location; or o the development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the needs for which clearly outweigh the loss.
This will be reflected within local planning policy of relevance to playing pitches in the Hart Local Plan. This is still in development, but the following policies are recommended for inclusion and separated out under the three headings of Protect, Enhance and Provide.
Protect
1. Hart has undertaken a Playing Pitch Strategy and assessed existing and future needs for pitch provision across the District. The firm conclusion is that there is an identified need to retain all existing playing fields and it is therefore recommended that the existing planning policy should continue to be applied so that the Council will resist granting planning permission for any development which would lead to the loss, or would prejudice the use, of a playing field or land last used as a playing field.
2. It is also recommended that the Council continue to work with strategic sports partners (Sport England and the National Governing Bodies of sport for playing pitch sports) to seek agreements to secure access for community sport at those sites in the District where long term access is currently unsecured.
3. Where playing field sites are in the Council's ownership, the policy of securing community access through asset transfer to Parish Councils, community clubs and/or sports associations should continue to be applied in consultation with National Governing Bodies provided that:
i) The facilities are assessed as of 'good' quality by the relevant governing bodies of sport prior to transfer, and ii) The transferee organisation is able to demonstrate it has the capacity and resources to maintain the facilities to good quality (and this forms part of any service level agreement). iii) It is recommended that the terms of future transfer agreements include incentives for the clubs to deliver sports development outcomes (e.g. grow numbers of teams, volunteering, and sporting opportunities for under- represented groups) that align with the Council's aims and objectives.
4. With that in mind, Hart District Council should ensure a firmer and closer working relationship with Parish Councils to ensure that the sporting needs of the community are met across the District in the short to medium term.
5. Ensure that any changes to levels of provision as recommended in the action plan of this strategy, reductions in numbers of pitches marked, changes in pitch sizes, re-emphasis towards training grids, are reversible to accommodate future need.
6. It is recommended that both Hampshire County Council and Hart District Council agree a formal protocol for influencing the design and specification of school facilities to ensure their suitability for school and community use. Securing formal community use agreements at those sites should form part of this protocol.
7. It is recommended the Council maintain its existing budget for playing pitch maintenance in recognition of the contribution that outdoor sports make to meeting strategic aims and objectives for public health, education and community cohesion.
8. Taking into account the challenge of Parish Councils not being able to maintain sites to the required quality standard, it is recommended that support be given to existing Parish Councils to find solutions to ensure current supply is retained and to the right standard. www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 29
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Enhance
1. It is recommended that the Council assist Parish Councils in reviewing playing pitch maintenance regimes and specifications for out-sourced services annually in consultation with the relevant National Governing Bodies of sport to secure maximum value from this investment and ensure the budget is employed as effectively as possible to meet the specific requirements of different sports.
2. It is recommended that the Council work with strategic sports partners (Sport England and the relevant National Governing Bodies of sport) and with local stakeholders to implement priority enhancement projects on identified key sites for each sport (as identified in the Playing Pitch Strategy Action Plan in Section 5 of this strategy).
3. Develop a strategic approach jointly with the relevant National Governing Bodies of sport and Regional Pitch Improvement Advisors to addressing the issue of pitch waterlogging and carrying capacity on poor quality sites, setting priorities for those sites where sporting benefit will be greatest from investment in drainage improvement works / maintenance requirements in the long-term.
4. Contributions towards off-site improvements to existing pitches, or on-site provision of playing pitches, should continue to be sought under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 or the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) mechanism from all qualifying housing developments as appropriate. Provision should also continue to be sought for on-going maintenance costs.
5. In order to ensure that the benefits associated with CIL are used to pro-actively support the identified facilities over the forthcoming five years, a list of priorities should be agreed and instituted immediately. It should be noted that further similar reviews will be required throughout the lifespan of the strategy.
6. The Playing Pitch Strategy Steering Group (consisting of members and officers) should meet every six months to review progress against the Playing Pitch Strategy Action Plan and update the Action Plan and selection of priority enhancement projects to reflect material changes in the picture of playing pitch supply and demand in the District during the preceding 12 months.
Provide
1. Identify and act on opportunities to address the imbalance in distribution of accessible playing pitch facilities in the District, most particularly in areas where there are fewer playing field sites or pitches suitable for match play.
2. In assessing opportunities for new provision, prioritise facility types that can accommodate high levels of use and be adapted for informal and casual use, especially artificial grass pitches (for football, hockey, rugby) and non-turf pitches and robust net systems for cricket in club settings.
3. The Council’s priorities are to increase the quality and quantity on existing sites where possible to support the growth of clubs and hub-sites for sport in Hart. Developer contributions will be sought for the priority projects identified in the Action Plan of the Council’s Playing Pitch Strategy within a 1km catchment of any development or the nearest appropriate outdoor facility that has been identified as a priority for investment within the Action Plan at the time the planning application is submitted in the first instance, ahead of any proposed new on-site playing field provision.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 30
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
4.3 Quality Standards It has been seen that carrying capacity has a direct relationship with pitch quality scores. Improved quality directly affects pitch carrying capacity. Investment in quality can therefore, be seen as a viable alternative to investment in new provision. For example, raising the quality of a football pitch from ‘Standard’ to ‘Good’ could enable an additional game per week to be accommodated.
In order to ensure that current provision, and any new provision arising from developments, can accommodate future demand, the quality of provision needs to be brought up. This will be done by directing investment in key priority sites identified in the Action Plan and to the standards listed below. The cost of this may be funded through Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy contributions, in combination with contributions towards new provision, as a means of ensuring adequate future provision commensurate with population growth.
Quality Standards
Football – Future Standard – Good (80% or more against NGB assessment) Rugby Union – Future Standard – M2 (no action needed on maintenance) and D2 (No action needed on pitch drainage). Cricket – Future standard – Good (85% or more against NGB assessment) AGPs – Future Standard - Good (80% or more against Sport England assessment).
These represent the quality standards that Hart District Council should maintain and protect to meet the needs of the existing and future population. Funding towards meeting these quality standards may be provided by developers in proportion to the size of the development. Additional investment in quality would enable the majority to be brought up to a “Good” standard, which would maximise their potential to accommodate future demand.
For any replacement provision or new provision that is to provide both an equivalent quantity and quality of provision, Sport England have issued a guidance note which provides technical guidance on how to undertake further assessment to determine whether proposals will provide, in practice, at least equivalent quality replacement playing fields.
For an existing playing field(s) to be lost, the Equivalent Quality Assessment must conclude that the proposed replacement playing field(s) will have at least an equivalent Performance Quality Standard (PQS) as the original playing field(s) and must not cost any more to improve and maintain in the short, medium and long term.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 31
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
5. Action Plan
This Section of the Playing Pitch Strategy identifies the priority sites for enhancement for each pitch sport, area specific actions and sports specific actions.
As noted earlier in the strategy, current provision in Hart is short of pitches for junior and youth football. The expected growth of youth teams (and pitch requirements) is based on the projections set out in tables 2.12- 2.14 in Section 2. It is noted that the survey responses from football clubs indicated a much higher number of teams being planned the strategy, however, follows the Sport England methodology for team generation rates based on known population changes. The annual review process would need to assess the impact from one season to the next of the reported growth projected by clubs and the actual new teams that have been formed and sustained.
The potential sites and the priority projects as highlighted within the action plan, both for grass and AGP provision will, if developed, address this shortfall including the future growth and demand based on population alongside the club growth.
As stated earlier in Section 4, developer contributions will be sought for the priority projects identified in Section 5 within a 1km catchment of any development in the first instance, ahead of any proposed new on-site playing field provision. The Council’s priorities are to increase the quality and quantity on existing sites where possible to support the growth of clubs and hub-sites for sport in hart.
5.1 Potential Investment Sites The following sites in the District are selected for each pitch sport on the basis of meeting most if not all of the following criteria:
o Strategic location (accessibility by public transport) o Capacity (multi-pitch) o Security of access (e.g. long lease, grant conditions, community use agreement) o On-site management / supervision of pitch use o Potential for delivering sports development outcomes that align with Hart DC, Sport England, Hampshire Sport and NGB strategic aims.
Based on discussions held at the Steering Group, feedback from Clubs, input from the NGBs and discussions with Officers of the Council, The following sites in Figures 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 represent opportunities for investment in order to protect and enhance existing provision. Priority sites from this list are then detailed in Section 5.3 below.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 32
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Figure 5.1: Cricket Sites Cricket Secured club/sports association sites There is a large indoor cricket complex at Eversley Sports Association which is used in the winter for training by Hart based and out of District clubs. Additional outdoor nets are planned by the club.
Plans for a new second pitch for Hartley Wintney Cricket Club should help improve the quality standard on their existing pitch (see Appendix A Needs Assessment Report).
The purchase of additional land to create a second square as well as reduce Odiham & Greywell Cricket Club’s reliance on playing home games on other sites, should help improve the quality standard on their main pitch (see Appendix A Needs Assessment Report).
Yateley Cricket Club’s pitch improvements to even out their outfield at Sean Devereux Park will help them gain promotion in the league (present standard precludes this).
Suitable clubs sites need to be identified to provide enhanced or new nets and NTPs in partnership with Hampshire Cricket Board.
Figure 5.2: Football Sites Football Secured club/sports association sites Eversley & California FC - Expansion plans including the development of a new clubhouse, more grass football pitches, improved parking and access as when funding allows.
Fleet Town FC - plans to replace the existing boardroom building at the ground and to refurbish the existing changing room facilities.
Memorial Playing Fields, Hartley Wintney - Hartley Wintney Football Club & Hartley Wintney Junior FC are currently researching costs for drainage of the main grass football pitch. One new grass football pitch is due to be available within next two years (but the Section 106 Agreement connected to it has yet to be finalised with the developer).
Sean Deveraux Park is a large site with multiple pitches and an adjacent cricket pitch owned by Yateley United. The club plan on initially improving the quality/drainage and layout of the pitches first, then subsequently planning for a new clubhouse and floodlights. Park sites Calthorpe Park – This site has potential as a local hub, but requires investment in drainage and surface levelling. (NB. The site is on a former landfill site.). Leisure Centre sites Hart Leisure Centre will have two new youth football pitches, a full size floodlit 3G AGP and four five-a-side floodlit 3G AGPs.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 33
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Football 3G AGPs To ensure full community access, all new AGP pitches should be FA tested to the British Standard for synthetic turf sports surfaces: BS EN 15330-1 and be on the FA 3G Football Turf Pitch Register.
Figure 5.3: Hockey Sites Hockey Secured club/sports association sites Eversley Sports Association – there are plans to expand pitch provision and to create full size sand filled AGP hockey pitch.
Figure 5.4: Rugby Sites Rugby Rugby development potential hub sites The RFU are currently working on a request for a new senior club in the District, Hook & Odiham RFC who will train and play at Lord Wandsworth College.
Should this take off, then Hampshire RFU have requested that a more permanent and sustainable home ground in the Hook / Odiham area needs to be identified and explored.
5.2 Site Specific Actions
The Playing Pitch Assessments (Appendices A-C) set out all the specific pitch needs and the Playing Pitch Strategy sets out all sites below by way of a summary in Figure 5.5 that follows. This includes sites that were considered as having no issues, as identified from site assessments, audits and consultation, but highlighted as a need to maintain current quality status. These are not listed as priorities or time dependent given the need to retain the quality and maintenance regimes as a vital part of the supply of playing pitches for Hart.
Section 5.3 and Figure 5.6 follow with the priority sites for action in the short, medium and longer term. The first two years implementation and delivery of this Playing Pitch Strategy, the short term, are considered the leading priorities for investment.
The timescales within this Playing Pitch Strategy mirror those within the main Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study. Short term is defined as 1 – 2 years. Medium Term 3 – 5 years and Long Term is 5 years and above.
To assist with the future delivery of the projects highlighted below, and the outline investment requirements the sites have been divided into the sub-regions of the district as introduced earlier within this strategy report. It should be noted that the assessment of need for all pitch sports within this playing pitch is done on a district wide basis and the split of projects below is done solely to coordinate potential sub-area investment opportunities.
Sub Area A: West Area (Wards: Eversley, Hartley Wintney, Hook, Odiham and Long Sutton)
Sub Area B: North East area (Wards: Yateley North, Yateley West, Yateley East, Frogmoor & Darby Green and Blackwater & Hawley)
Sub Area C: South East area (Wards: Fleet Pondtail, Fleet Central, Fleet West, Fleet Courtmoor, Church Crookham West and Church Crookham East)
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 34
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Figure 5.5: All Sites and Actions - Sub-Area Split
Sub Site Issue(s) Action Lead Partners Resources Priority Area A Bramshill Police Risk of Identify alternative Hart DC Hampshire Officer time Short term College permanent loss provision Cricket of playing field Board land /ECB / Hants FA. A Hartletts Park No changing Refurbishment of Hook Parish FA Project Medium rooms, community centre Council management and term reconfiguration Fees – Capital of pitches. budget to be determined but circa £85k based on scheme for changing
A Hartley Witney 1.Pitch -Ongoing Hartley Hartley Circa £20k based Memorial Ground maintenance negotiations with Witney FC Witney on drainage Short Term (drainage and LA (security) Parish scheme (pitch) Long uneven) -Plans to improve Council term -shortage of drainage (drainage) equipment based on -security of funding at pitches Section 106 present. uncertain. Develop new pitch. Hartley B&BBC developer 2. Plans for a Witney CC contributions new cricket pitch to be funded from new development developer Develop new pitch Hartley Hartley contributions Wintney Wintney £20k new pitch 3. One new grass Parish Council Football Funding secured football pitch is Club / due to be Hartley available within Wintney next two years. Junior (The funding for Football the pitch has Club been secured, but the operating costs have not.)
A King George V None identified Maintain Standards Hook & Hook PC Existing On Going Playing Field Newham maintenance Basics CC budget A Long Sutton None identified Maintain Standards Long Sutton & Hart D.C. Existing On Going Recreation Ground Well PC maintenance budget A Lord Wandsworth Pitch Ongoing through Lord Long Internal through Short term College improvements maintenance Wandsworth Sutton & maintenance College Well PC A Memorial Ground None identified Maintain Standards Hart DC Clubs Existing On Going
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 35
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Sub Site Issue(s) Action Lead Partners Resources Priority Area A North Pitch Drainage works North Circa £20k based Medium Warnborough old improvements Warnborough on drainage term Boys FC (drainage) Youth Football scheme Club A Odiham & -Vandalism Purchase / lease Odiham & To be determined Long term Greywell CC -Shortage of additional land for Greywell CC pitches expansion (second pitch) A RAF Odiham Risk of Begin negotiations Hartley Officer time Short term Gymnasium permanent loss on lease Wintney (not a of playing field (support from facility land - short term Hart DC) investment lease action) A Robert May's Poor quality Improve changing Robert May's Capital scheme Medium School ancillary facilities School funded by school term A Rotherwick Playing None identified Maintain Standards Hook PC. Hart D.C. Existing On Going Fields maintenance budget A St Neots Prep AGP use No action possible School restricted by lack of floodlights A The Abercorn Non Identified Maintain Standards Crookham Hart D.C. On Going Rovers F.C. A The St John None identified Maintain Standards Hartley Existing Budget On Going Ground Wintney P.C. A Additional site Site to be Develop additional Hart DC via Developers Section 106 Medium to North East of Hook identified Pitches Section 106 developer long term East of Hooke contributions B Blackwater & Pitch Improve drainage Blackwater Drainage scheme Medium Hawley Leisure improvements and re-configure and Hawley Circa £20k plus term Centre (drainage). pitches Town Council improvement to Poor maintenance maintenance B Cross Green None identified Maintain Standards Eversley Existing On Going Sports maintenance Association budget B Crown Taverners Risk of Support Crown Crown Hampshire Short term Cricket Club permanent loss Taverners in Taverners Cricket of playing field providing Cricket Club Board / land. additional ECB, MOD Cost of pitch resources for maintenance. maintenance and lease cost B Darby Green Pitch Improved drainage Yateley Town Circa £20k based Medium Playing Fields improvements Council on drainage term (drainage). scheme Poor maintenance. B Eversley Sports 12 acres of 1. Secure purchase ESA Hampshire 1. Staff and legal Short term / Association sports Fields of additional 20 Cricket resources Medium including acres of land. Board 2. Project term (see Clubhouse with 2. Layout new /ECB, management and action plan) catering facilities pitches England Fees – Capital and Bar Hockey, budget to be www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 36
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Sub Site Issue(s) Action Lead Partners Resources Priority Area Changing rooms 3. Construction of Hants FA, determined but with Catering sand filled AGP for Hart DC. circa £650k based facility hockey on scheme for FS 2 senior football 4. Additional senior Sand filled pitch pitches and junior cricket 8 junior football pitches, pitches 5. Additional Additional senior outdoor cricket & junior cricket nets on Fox Lane pitches site. Additional 6. Drainage and outdoor cricket irrigation nets infrastructure as Car park for 80 appropriate with vehicles changing facilities Drainage and irrigation All based on NGB infrastructure requirements. New sand filled AGP for hockey B Frogmore Junior Pitch Improved drainage Frogmore Circa £20k based Medium School improvements - Junior School on drainage Term drainage scheme B Frogmore Leisure Pitch Improved drainage Frogmore LC Circa £20k based Short term Centre improvements on drainage (drainage). scheme Poor maintenance. B Gibraltar Barracks None identified Maintain MOD n/a On Going community access B The Sean Devereux Cricket Pitch -Plan to improve Yateley Hart DC Project Short term Park improvements drainage, evenness Cricket and Hants FA management and (drainage and of outfield - Hockey Club Fees – Capital uneven) Negotiating lease budget to be -poor with Yateley determined but maintenance Football Club circa £250k based -security of lease on scheme for Plans to improve Yateley pitch Football pitch the United, FC, improvements, improvements quality/drainage changing and layout of the improvements football pitches and and floodlighting in long term clubhouse and floodlights
B The Zebon Copse -Pitch Improve drainage Fleet Town Circa £20k based Medium Centre maintenance Council on drainage term (drainage) scheme -affordability of rent B Westfields Junior None identified Maintain Standards Westfields Hampshire Existing Schools On Going School Junior School County Budget Council
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 37
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Sub Site Issue(s) Action Lead Partners Resources Priority Area B Yateley CC -Pitch Begin negotiations Yateley CC Yateley To be determined Short term improvements on lease, improve Town -Securing access maintenance Council regime B Yateley Green None identified Maintain Standards Yateley Town Hart D.C. Existing On Going Council maintenance budget B Yateley Manor Changing Improve changing – Yateley Manor Unknown Medium Prep School capacity Site acquired - Prep School term plans in hand B Yateley Health and None identified Maintain Standards Community Clubs Existing On going Fitness School C All Saints C of E None identified Maintain Standards All Saints C of Hampshire Existing Schools On Going Junior School E Junior County Budget School Council C Ansells Farm None identified Maintain standards Fleet Town Existing On Going Council C Basingbourne Park Changing quality Re-furbish changing Fleet Town Friends of Project Medium facilities Council Basingbour management and term ne Park Fees – Capital budget to be determined but circa £25k C Calthorpe Park Drainage and Develop as local Fleet Town Fleet Town Medium surface levelling hub for football Colts. Council, Term Hart DC, Hants FA
C Calthorpe Park Additional AGP Construction of Calthorpe Project Short term School new short pile 3G Park School management and AGP Fees – Capital budget to be determined but circa £650k based on scheme for 3G pitch
C Cody Sports & Risk of Support club to Hart DC Hampshire Officer time Short term Social Club permanent loss secure tenure or Cricket of playing field Identify alternative Board land provision /ECB / Hants FA. C Court Moor School Limited use due Additional Court Moor Hart DC To be determined Consultant to lack of floodlighting is School (Planning) Team view floodlights aspiration of school this as unlikely to proceed. C Elvetham Heath None identified Maintain Standards Elvetham Hart DC Existing On Going Heath Parish maintenance Council budget C Farnham Road None identified Maintain Standards Crondall Hart D.C. Existing On Going Recreation Ground Parish Council maintenance budget www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 38
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Sub Site Issue(s) Action Lead Partners Resources Priority Area C Fleet Cricket Club Quality of Plan to improve Fleet Cricket To be determined Long term changing changing facilities Club Circa £85k based facilities on refurbishment of changing C Fleet Town Fitness Quality of 2015 is the club's Fleet Town FC Hants FA. To be determined Long term & Social Club facilities. 125th Anniversary Circa £85k based Lack of girls Year (founded on refurbishment changing 1890) and plans to of changing facilities. replace the existing boardroom building at the ground and to refurbish the existing changing room facilities. C Hart Leisure Pitch Two new junior Hart DC 1. Staff and legal Short term Centre improvement grass football resources proposals pitches, a full size 2. Project floodlit 3G AGP and management and four five-a-side 3G Fees – Capital AGPs. budget to be determined but circa £650k based on scheme for FS Sand filled pitch
C Hook Meadow None identified Maintain Standards Crondall Hart D.C. Existing On Going Parish Council maintenance budget C Oakley Park Pitch Improve drainage Fleet Town Fleet Town Circa £20k based Medium maintenance - Colts Council on drainage term drainage, scheme uneven surface C Peter Driver Sports -Pitch Improve drainage Fleet Town Church Circa £20k based Medium Ground maintenance Colts Crookham on drainage term (drainage, PC. scheme uneven grass coverage) C Velmead Junior None identified Maintain Standards Velmead Hampshire Existing Schools On Going School Junior School County Budget Council
5.3 Priority Actions
Recommended priority actions for the Playing Pitch Strategy Steering Group to progress in the short, medium and long term following adoption of the strategy are detailed in Figure 5.6 below. By their nature, some of these projects may take longer to implement or others may prove impractical or unaffordable following detailed feasibility assessment. It is therefore important that the Steering Group continues to meet regularly during the life of the Playing Pitch Strategy to review and update the priority actions.
Key for Figure 5.6:
Short Term = 1 year to 3 years Medium Term = 3 to 5 years Long Term = 5 years+
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 39
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Figure 5.6: Priority Projects Years 1 - 3
Sub Site Issue(s) Action Lead Partners Resources Priority Area A Bramshill Police Risk of Identify Hart DC ECB / FA Officer time Short College, Police permanent loss alternative Term College, Bramshill, of playing field provision via Local Hook, RG27 0JH land Plan process ahead of the potential loss. A Hartley Witney -One new grass -Plans for new Hartley Hartley £20k new pitch Short Memorial Ground, football pitch is pitch Wintney Wintney Funding Term Green Lane, due to be Parish Council Football Club / secured Hartley Wintney, available within Hartley RG27 8DL. next two years. Wintney (The funding for Junior the pitch has Football Club been secured, but the operating costs have not.) A Lord Wandsworth Pitch Ongoing through Lord - Internal Short College, Long improvements maintenance Wandsworth through Term Sutton, Hook, College maintenance RG29 1TB B Crown Taverners -Risk of Support Crown Crown ECB, MOD - Short CC, Minely Road, permanent loss Taverners in Taverners CC Term adjacent to M3 of playing field providing J4a land additional -Cost of pitch resources for maintenance maintenance and lease cost B Eversley Sports -New sand Construction of a Eversley England Project Short Association, Bob based AGP for floodlit full size Sports Hockey, management Term Schofield Way, hockey sand based AGP Association Yatelely and Fees – Fox Lane, Eversley for hockey Hockey Club Capital budget Cross, RG27 0NQ to be determined, but circa £650k based on scheme for a sand based AGP B Frogmore Leisure -Pitch Improved Frogmore - Circa £20k Short Centre, Potley Hill improvements drainage Community based on Term Road, Yateley, (drainage) College / drainage GU46 6AG -Poor Hampshire scheme maintenance County Council B The Sean -Pitch -Plan to improve Yateley United Yateley Project Short Devereux Park, improvements drainage, Football Club Cricket and management Term GU46 7SZ (drainage and evenness of Hockey Club, and Fees – uneven) outfield Yateley Town Capital budget -Poor -Plans to improve Council to be maintenance the Hants FA determined but -Security of quality/drainage circa £250k lease (football and layout of the based on owned part of football pitches scheme for www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 40
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Sub Site Issue(s) Action Lead Partners Resources Priority Area Sean Devereux and in long term pitch Park) for clubhouse and improvements, Yateley CC floodlights changing -Negotiating lease improvements with Yateley and Cricket Club floodlighting B Yateley Cricket -Pitch Begin Yateley Yateley Town To be Short Club, GU46 7SZ improvements negotiations on Cricket and Council determined Term (Yateley CC own -Securing access lease for football Hockey Club part of Sean owned part of Devereux Park) Sean Devereux Park), improve maintenance regime C Calthorpe Park Additional AGP Construction of Calthorpe - Project Short School, Hitches new short pile 3G Park School / management Term Lane, Fleet, GU51 AGP Hampshire and Fees – 5JA County Capital budget Council to be determined but circa £650k based on scheme for 3G pitch C Cody Sports & Risk of Support club to Hart DC Hampshire Officer time Short Social Club permanent loss secure tenure or Cricket Board term of playing field Identify /ECB / Hants land alternative FA. provision C New Hart Leisure Additional grass Two new youth Hart DC - LA funding Short Centre and all weather football pitches, a confirmed Term pitches at the full size floodlit new site 3G AGP and four five-a-side floodlit 3G AGPs
5.7 Medium to Long Term Projects
Sub Site Issue(s) Action Lead Partners Resources Priority Area A Hartletts Park, -No changing Refurbishment of Hook Parish - Project Medium Ravenscroft, rooms community centre Council management Term Hook, RG27 9NN - and Fees – Reconfiguration Capital budget of pitches to be determined but circa £85k based on scheme for changing A North Pitch Drainage works North - Circa £20k Medium Warnborough Old improvements Warnborough based on Term Boys FC, The (drainage) Youth Football drainage Street, North Club scheme
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 41
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Sub Site Issue(s) Action Lead Partners Resources Priority Area Warnborough, RG29 1BL A Robert May's Poor quality Improve changing Robert May's - Capital scheme Medium School, West St, ancillary School / funded by Term Odiham, Hook, facilities Hampshire school RG29 1NA County Council B Yateley Manor Changing Improve changing Yateley Manor - To be Medium Prep School, 51 capacity – Site acquired - Prep School determined Term Reading Road, plans in hand Yateley, GU46 7UQ B Blackwater & -Pitch Improve drainage Blackwater & - Drainage Medium Hawley Leisure improvements and re-configure Hawley Town scheme Circa Term Centre, Hawley (drainage) pitches Council £20k plus Green, -Poor improvement Camberley, GU17 maintenance to maintenance 9BW B Darby Green -Pitch Improved Yateley Town - Circa £20k Medium Playing Fields, improvements drainage Council based on Term GU17 0DX (drainage) drainage -Poor scheme maintenance B Eversley Sports -Additional Additional Eversley - Circa £15-20k Medium Association, Bob outdoor cricket outdoor cricket Sports based on a Term Schofield Way, nets nets on Fox Lane Association three net Fox Lane, Eversley site system Cross, RG27 0NQ B Frogmore Junior Pitch Improved Frogmore - Circa £20k Medium School, Green improvements drainage Junior School based on Term Lane, Camberley, (drainage) drainage GU17 0NY scheme B The Zebon Copse -Pitch Improve drainage Church - Circa £20k Medium Centre, Danvers maintenance Crookham based on Term Drive, Church (drainage) Parish Council drainage Crookham, GU52 -Affordability of scheme 0ZE rent C Basingbourne Changing Re-furbish Fleet Town Friends of Project Medium Park, GU52 6TE quality changing facilities Council Basingbourne management Term Park and Fees – Capital budget to be determined but circa £25k C Calthorpe Park, -Pitch -Negotiating lease Fleet Town Fleet Town As the site is on Medium Fleet, GU51 4AB maintenance with Fleet Town Colts Council a former landfill Term (drainage) Council. site, a ground -Quality of -Develop as local conditions changing - hub survey will be affordability of required before rent the costs and -Availability of extent of works pitches are determined. www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 42
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Sub Site Issue(s) Action Lead Partners Resources Priority Area C Oakley Park, GU51 Pitch Improve drainage Fleet Town Fleet Town Circa £20k Medium 3PP maintenance Colts Council based on Term (drainage, drainage uneven surface) scheme C Peter Driver Pitch Improve drainage Fleet Town Church Circa £20k Medium Sports Ground, maintenance Colts Crookham PC based on Term Tweseldown (drainage, drainage Road, Fleet, GU52 uneven grass scheme 8DF coverage) Longer Term A Additional site Site to be Identify site via Hart DC via Developer Section 106 Medium North East of identified for Local Plan Section 106 developer to Long Hook additional pitch process. contribution – Term for Hartley Develop to be Wintney Cricket additional pitches determined Club and the (further pitches for investigation in football support for this project for Hook Utd FC also). A Hartley Witney -Pitch -Ongoing Hartley Hartley Circa £20k Long Memorial Ground, maintenance negotiations with Witney FC Witney Parish based on Term Green Lane, (drainage and LA (security) Council drainage Hartley Wintney, uneven) -Plans to improve RG27 8DL. -Shortage of drainage on main equipment pitch -Security of pitches uncertain A Odiham & -Vandalism Purchase / lease Odiham & Hart DC To be Long Greywell Cricket -Shortage of additional land for Greywell CC (planning) determined Term Club, Long Lane, pitches expansion RG29 1JE (second pitch) C Fleet Cricket Club, Quality of Plan to improve Fleet CC - Circa £85k Long GU51 4AB changing changing facilities based on Term facilities refurbishment of changing C Fleet Town Fitness -Quality of -Planning to Fleet Town FC - Circa £85k Long & Social Club, facilities replace the based on Term GU51 5FA -Lack of girls existing refurbishment changing boardroom of changing facilities building at the ground and to refurbish the existing changing room facilities.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 43
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
6. Summary
The Playing Pitch Strategy forms an integral part of the overall Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study for Hart District Council and importantly represents a key element of the evidence base for the emerging Local Plan.
Hart District Council in the midst of an important and defining time for the District as the plans (and evidence base) are being put in place to ensure that the development and growth of its infrastructure and population provides the right amount of facilities for community sport to meet both current and future demand.
The Council and its partners have a good track record of investment in leisure and recreation facilities and the Council has long recognised the value of sport and leisure as a key contributor to health and wellbeing and community development. Over recent years the Council have invested in sport and leisure facilities in Hart to provide high quality opportunities for residents to lead active lifestyles and participate in sport and physical activity. The adoption and implementation of this strategy will ensure this can continue.
The Steering Group set out a number of clear drivers and priorities to address and this strategy tackles these by: providing an up to date understanding of supply and demand, providing a solid evidence base for each leading sport, a site specific basis for future investment, addressing changes to demand from population increases and spatial needs, identifying broad issues to be addressed for pitch sports (such as maintenance issues, wider action needed to support individual sports and changing forms of participation), identifying the protection of sites and also determining the future role and demand for AGPs in supporting growth and changes to hockey and football.
The Council and its partners have shown great vision in committing to this strategy and the overall Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study and the subsequent potential delivery of the leading priorities and recommendations.
The central challenge for Hart District Council, in times of continuing budget pressure for local authorities, is to address both the current identified facility shortfall (in both quality and quantity) as well as continuing to ensure that community provision caters for the Districts projected population increases included potential housing overspill and growth from its neighbouring local authorities.
Hart District Council’s Planning Department alongside the Leisure and Environmental Promotion team must now ensure that this strategy, as part of the Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study, and the policies, standards and recommendations presented therein, become embedded within the emerging local plan and the local planning process to ensure that sport, leisure and recreation can continue to get the investment it needs to making the lasting and positive impact that is has on the lives of the residents of Hart District.
The strategy has identified the likely impact of the population growth currently projected on demand for pitches for team games and training for the leading pitch sports within Hart. It has been established that the current supply of pitches, with the recommended project investments (including the AGPs), will provide the capacity required to meet the needs of the pitch sports in Hart to 2032 (the current Local Plan period) based on population growth currently forecast. It should be noted that this will only be the case if the investments and priority projects highlighted in this strategy are delivered. This is most pertinent for the demand for youth football and its future accommodation on the proposed new AGPs, the area of most need and current shortfall.
Whilst the current and forecast population increases are accounted for within the priority projects, there is a high degree of uncertainty as to future allocations for new housing within the Local Plan period. As a consequence of the Council's partnership with neighbour authorities - Surrey Heath and Rushmoor - new allocations may well be made that would result in substantially greater population growth than the current projections. Should this happen, there will be more demand for playing pitches than accounted for in this strategy. Such changes in the picture of demand should be taken into account (along with any changes in supply) in the process of periodic review and updating the strategy and action plan.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 44
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Appendix A - Assessment of Need: Cricket
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 45
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Appendix A Cricket - Assessment of Needs (Stages B & C)
1. Pitch Supply (Step 2)
For all four sports included in the PPS scope – cricket, football, hockey and rugby - the following pitch supply information, see diagram below, has been gathered, as far as possible, by a combination of data collection and review, surveys and consultations:
Figure A1: Pitch Supply Overview
Sources of information – The sources of information used to establish current pitch supply were: latest Sport England Active Places Power audit for playing pitches in Hart; relevant NGB, county board and club websites; NGB insight data (where available); grounds staff (where present on site visits), NGB national and regional/county PPS leads; online survey returns from sports clubs, schools & NGBs.
Site visits and inspections - Insight from site visits and discussions with owners, managers, club officials or ground staff as available, formed the base data to enable the pitch inspections (using non-technical quality assessment forms) to be undertaken. Changes to pitch layouts and numbers since the last Active Places audit are recorded to provide an up to date record of pitch quantity and quality in Hart.
NGB verifications - On completion of the audit, NGB representatives reviewed the pitch quality ratings and the pitch carrying capacity, based on the quality assessment. It is this agreed carrying capacity rating that has been used in the site-specific needs assessments.
Findings - The pitch supply information for Hart as set out in Figure A1 above has been collated and entered in Spreadsheets (one for each pitch sport) detailing: . Current Supply . Current Demand . Site Overviews (current supply and demand balance) . Future Supply and Demand (taking into account forthcoming changes in the supply of pitches and projected population change.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 1
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment Cricket Supply Findings relating to cricket pitch supply in Hart are summarised below.
Number of grass pitches In the 2015 season, 20 grass Cricket Squares and 16 outdoor Non-Turf Pitches (NTPs) were identified as available for community cricket use at 16 sites in Hart. Of these, two sites have separate names but are counted in this study as single sites (Eversley / Cross Green and Zebon Copse / Darby Green). Six of these sites are effectively closed to match games, but do accommodate a degree of practice and closed (School & Armed Services) use. One site outside of the District (Stratton Park) is used extensively by a major club in Hart – Hook & Newham Basics.
The 20 grass squares and 16 NTPs are being used in 2015 by 121 teams of all ages in Hart- based clubs. The majority of these teams play in Saturday leagues. One club has three home grounds, two based in Hart and one based in a neighbouring borough. There are 43 adult male teams in Hart playing in leagues or friendly matches and a number of midweek evening matches. There are also a further 66 junior boys teams, eight junior girls teams and four women’s cricket teams, a total of 121 Teams.
The pitches also accommodate an element of 'imported' demand, i.e. displaced demand from neighbouring Districts, but this is more than balanced by a larger element of exported demand, i.e. Hart-based teams playing on pitches outside the District.
Size of grass pitches Five of the 20 grass squares include some wickets that are sized appropriately for junior matches and these are marked out according to need. In most cases where NTPs are provided, these are used for junior matches. The schools based squares provided by St Neots Preparatory School, Lord Wandsworth College, Calthorpe Park School (NTP), Court Moor School (NTP) and Yateley Manor School (NTP) also have junior sized wickets. In addition, many of the private club grass pitches do set aside one strip for junior matches requiring shorter dimensions, often on their out-field.
Ownership, Operation, Quality and Access Most sites are owned outright or leased by clubs. In some cases, there is a mixture of ownership of one part of a site and lease of another (Eversley / Cross Green and Sean Devereux Park). Where leases are in place, these are generally with the Local Authority, either Hart District Council or the local or Parish or Town Council. One club leases its site from the MOD (Crown Taverners CC).
There is a large Indoor Cricket Complex at Eversley Sports Association (ESA) which is used in the winter for training by Hart based and out of District clubs. ESA owns its own land and has plans for further extensions. Odiham and Greywell CC are also seeking additional land adjacent to their site for expansion.
The quality of pitches across Hart is good with most clubs making their own arrangements for maintenance. Practice wickets and nets are generally in good order and ancillary facilities are also generally good.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 2
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
Key features of the cricket facilities at these sites are shown in Figures A2, A3, A4, A5 and A6:
Figure A2: Non-Club & School Grass Cricket Pitches Site No. Pitches No. Pitch Ancillary & Security of Access Wickets Quality1 Quality Bramshill Police 1 plus two 3 Standard Good Now unsecured access as College good sold to developers. Future quality nets access uncertain. Sub Area A Lord Wandsworth 2 22 Good None School only School
Sub Area A St Neots 1 10 Good None School only, but has had ad Preparatory School hoc community and Hampshire Cricket Board Sub Area A events
Figure A3. Local Authority, Town Council, Sports Club & Association Grass Cricket Pitches Site & Sub Area No. No. Pitch Ancillary & Security of Access Pitches Wickets Quality1 Quality Calthorpe Park 1 Plus 10 Good Changing / Secured access – Leased GU51 4AB practice Pavilion with from Fleet Town Council 2 nets on Kitchen & Bar years remaining, currently Sub Area C non-turf (poor). Parking on negotiating for a 25 – 30 wickets site. year lease to allow investment in changing facilities and showers. Cody Sports & Social 2 15 Poor Changing / Uncertain security of Club Pavilion with tenure - lease may have Kitchen & Bar expired. Sub Area C (standard). Parking on site. Crown Taverners – 1 plus 5 Good No changing in Secured access - leased to Minely Road Portable Pavilion, changing the sports club by MOD. practice in porta cabin, Considering giving up lease Sub Area A nets used basic. at end of term. Also used on non-turf by Fleet CC colts. wicket Eversley SA / Cross 2 plus 24 Changing / Secured access – Eversley Green RG27 0NQ practice Good Pavilion with Sports Association. nets Kitchen & Bar Sub Area A (good). Ample parking on site. The Green Hartley 1 plus. Roll 12 Good Changing / Secured access - sports club Wintney RG27 8QB out Pavilion with leases ground from Hart DC practice Kitchen & Bar – up to 2023. Promotion Sub Area A nets (standard). Some chances restricted by size
1Based on mean quality scores from non-technical assessments conducted at Start of the 2015 season, ECB Performance Quality Assessments (PQS) where provided, and categorised (good/standard/poor) in agreement with ECB.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 3
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
Site & Sub Area No. No. Pitch Ancillary & Security of Access Pitches Wickets Quality1 Quality parking on of outfield. Permanent adjacent green. Practice nets needed.
Hook Meadow 1 12 Good Changing / Secured access – Parish Crondall Pavilion with Council owns site. Also GU10 5QQ Kitchen & Bar used by Odiham & Greywell (good) shared CC. Sub Area C with bowling club. King George V PF 1 plus 12 Good Changing / Secured access - sports club Hook Common practice Pavilion with owns site. RG27 9JJ nets Kitchen & Bar.
Sub Area A Long Sutton 1 11 Good Changing /Pavilion Secured access – Parish Recreation Ground (good). Some Council owns site. Also parking on site. used by Odiham & Greywell Sub Area A CC.
Odiham & Greywell 1 plus 3 10 Good New Changing/ Secured access - Owned by CC Long Lane sets Pavilion with club. Club seeking to RG29 1JE practice Kitchen & Bar purchase adjacent land for nets (good & to ECB second square. Sub Area A standards). Ample parking on site. Rotherwick P.F. Post 1 8 Standard Changing / Secured access – Parish House Lane Pavilion - Council owns site. Rotherwick Thatched RG27 9BB (standard). Ample parking on site. Sub Area C St John’s Ground 1 plus 8 Good Changing 75 year lease in place from Dogmersfield RG27 practice / Pavilion with private landowner. 8SS nets Kitchen (good). Restricted parking Sub Area C on site. Sean Devereux Park 2 plus new 26 Good Changing / Owned by the club - 2nd practice Pavilion with square leased from Yateley Sub Area B nets Kitchen & Bar Football Club - 18 year (good & to ECB lease but negotiating. standards).Ample parking.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 4
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
Figure A4: MOD Grass Cricket Pitches Site No. Pitches No. Pitch Ancillary & Security of Access Wickets Quality2 Quality Gibraltar Barracks 1 10 Standard MOD Used by military teams and as additional site for some Sub Area B league matches
Figure A5: Non-Club & School Non-Turf Pitches Site No. Pitches No. Pitch Ancillary & Security of Access Wickets Quality2 Quality Blackwater & 1 1 non-turf Standard Changing / Leisure Open access. Hawley Leisure Centre (good), Centre free on-site parking. Sub Area B Bramshill Police 1 1 non-turf Poor None currently Now unsecured access as College accessible sold to developers. Future Sub Area A access uncertain. Calthorpe Park 1 1 non-turf Good None School only School
Sub Area C Court Moor School 1 1 non-turf Good None School only
Sub Area C Yateley Health & 1 1 non-turf Standard Changing / Leisure Out of school hours only. Fitness Centre (good), free on-site Sub Area B parking. Yateley Manor 1 1 non-turf Standard None School only School
Sub Area B
Figure A6: Local Authority, Town Council, Sports Club & Association Non-Turf Pitches Site No. Pitches No. Pitch Ancillary & Security of Access Wickets Quality2 Quality Calthorpe Park 2 Non-Turf, 2 non-turf Good Changing / Secured access – Leased 1 full size Pavilion with from Fleet Town Council 2 Sub Area C one 2/3rds Kitchen & Bar years remaining, currently size. (Poor). Parking on negotiating for a 25 – 30 site. year lease to allow investment in changing facilities and showers. Cody Sports & Social 1 1 non-turf Poor Changing / Uncertain security of Club Pavilion with tenure - lease may have Kitchen & Bar expired.
2 Based on mean quality scores from non-technical assessments conducted at Start of the 2015 season, ECB Performance Quality Assessments (PQS) where provided, and categorised (good/standard/poor) in agreement with ECB.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 5
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
Site No. Pitches No. Pitch Ancillary & Security of Access Wickets Quality2 Quality (Standard). Parking on site. Crown Taverners – 1 1 Good No changing in Secured access - leased to Milney Road Pavilion, changing the sports club by MOD. in porta cabin, Considering giving up lease Sub Area A basic. at end of term. Also used by Fleet CC colts.
Hook Meadow 1 1 Good Changing / Secured access – Parish Pavilion with Council owns site. Also Sub Area C Kitchen & Bar used by Odiham & Greywell (good) shared CC. with bowling club. Odiham & Greywell 1 1 Good New Changing / Secured access - Owned by CC Pavilion with club. Club seeking to Kitchen & Bar purchase adjacent land for Sub Area A (good & to ECB second square. standards). Ample parking on site. Rotherwick P.F. 1 1 Poor Changing / Secured access – Parish Pavilion - Council owns site. Sub Area C (Standard). Ample parking on site Sean Devereux Park 1 1 Good Changing / Owned by the club. Pavilion with Sub Area B Kitchen & Bar (good & to ECB standards). Ample parking. The Green, Hartley 1 1 Good Changing / Secured access - sports club Wintney Pavilion with leases ground from Hart DC Kitchen & Bar – up to 2023. Sub Area A (standard). Some parking on adjacent green. Yateley Green 1 1 Standard Yateley pavilion Owned by Town Council good. available for hire. Sub Area B
The majority of sites with cricket pitches are privately owned sports and social clubs operated on a 'not-for-profit' basis. These sites provide community access to their cricket pitches for programmed club fixtures only. There is also one cricket pitch available for hire from the Military of Defence (MoD).
Fine Turf Grass Pitches There are a total of 20 fine turf cricket squares in Hart. These provide a total of 198 fine turf wickets, many of which are brought into play twice during the course of a cricket season. The quality of these squares, and their outfields, are good. Bounce is generally medium to slow, but on inspection, most wickets were being maintained to provide an even surface with enough grass cover to take extended play.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 6
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
Mid-season repair work is undertaken at all sites and each square has end of season renovation work carried out on it. Practice takes place on wickets that have been played out, prior to renovation.
Where there are non-turf wickets on the fine turf squares, these are also used for practice. Many sites have mobile nets which are used for practice on played out grass wickets, designated grass practice wickets or non-turf wickets. In this way, maximum use is made of fine turf squares for both match play and practice.
Non-Turf Cricket Pitches In total there are 16 NTPs in Hart in operational condition. Of these, five are located on sites where there is no grass cricket square. Three of these five are on school sites and two are located at multi-sport sites as follows:
. Calthorpe Park School 1 NTP . Court Moor School 1 NTP . Blackwater & Hawley Leisure Centre 1 NTP . Yateley Health & Fitness - 1 NTP . Yateley Manor School – 1 NTP
NB. It should be noted that the NTP at Calthorpe Park School will be moving to a field next door to the current site, due to the building of a new 3G AGP.
The quality of non-turf wickets across Hart is variable. Many wickets rated from standard to poor show little signs of maintenance having been undertaken. In general, where non-turf wickets are located on or adjacent to fine turf squares the quality is better than where they are located in isolation.
Cricket Practice Nets There are six cricket sites in the District with functioning outdoor practice net systems. These are located at the following cricket sites:
. Bramshill Police College - a two net system which is in good condition as new. . Eversley SA / Cross Green site - a two net system in good condition (plus four indoor practice Wickets). . King George V PF. Hook Common - a three net system which is heavily used and which shows evidence of patch repairs. . Odiham & Greywell CC Long Lane - a three net system in good condition (plus mobile). . Sean Devereux Park - a three net system in good condition. . St John’s Ground Dogmersfield - two net system in standard condition.
ESA is planning additional outdoor cricket nets on their Fox Lane site as part of their proposed programme of expansion and improvement. In addition, a number of clubs use portable or wheeled cricket practice nets. These are normally used in association with NTPs located adjacent to grass squares, but are also used on grass wickets where these have been played out but before renovation. These include:
2 rd Calthorpe Park - One full size and one /3 size NTP are used Hartley Wintney – Whilst there is an ideal position available on site for permanent nets, planning issues prevent these being established. Odiham & Greywell – Portable nets supplement fixed 3 net system. Crown Taverners – Portable net used on NTP – three years old
Indoor Cricket Practice Nets The following community leisure sites and education sites provide indoor cricket facilities (sports halls with cricket practice nets, changing facilities) with availability for hire for winter indoor training:
. Eversley Sports Association, Fox Lane site – four indoor practice nets.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 7
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
. Hart Leisure Centre / Frogmoor Leisure Centre - On enquiry, neither Centre had indoor cricket nets for hire. . Lord Wandsworth College - Four good quality cricket nets available for hire to the community and the College run an Andrew Flintoff Cricket Academy for youngsters.
'At Risk' Sites The following sites with existing cricket pitches are highlighted as presenting some risk of loss of access to community cricket:
. Crown Taverners - The club is reliant on ground maintenance being funded and undertaken by members. This site is in excellent order, but changing is in a porta- cabin, there are no wicket covers and maintenance costs and any improvements must be funded by members. Members of the club are considering surrendering the current 15 year lease with the MOD (their landlord) when it expires and the Action Plan should consider whether assistance needs to be given to the club to avoid the loss of this facility. . Bramshill Police College – This site has been sold and is only available for the 2015 season. The square has only three wickets and is used for matches by Hartley Wintney CC. The club has also invested heavily into the maintenance of these and its loss will be a huge issue for the club. . Cody Sports & Social Club - the club's lease from the site owners, QinetiQ, is believed to have expired although the site continues to operate for community sport (predominantly football and bowls) and for social activities
Access to pitches on those sites managed directly by schools where there is no formal access agreement in place - e.g. Calthorpe Park School and Court Moor School, and the MOD site at Gibraltar Barracks are also a future risk to current supply.
While there are no current plans for change of use of the MOD playing field site at Gibraltar Barracks, there is some risk in the long term as far as continued access for community sport is concerned.
Proposed Provision ESA have plans for additional senior and junior cricket pitches, additional outdoor cricket nets on Fox Lane site, drainage and irrigation infrastructure as appropriate with changing facilities for these plans, based on NGB requirements.
Odiham & Greywell CC have plans to purchase additional land to create a second square and reduce their reliance on playing home games on other sites. This aspiration has come as a result of the club’s own expansion and development.
Fleet Cricket Club has poor changing facilities and has ambitions to improve these to retain and grow membership.
Hartley Wintney CC A new ground has been designed to meet ECB standards as part of a new housing development at North East Hook.
Yateley Cricket Club have plans to improve the evenness of their outfield at Sean Devereux park to enable them to gain promotion in the league (the present standard would preclude this).
Figure A7 below shows the Wards and Sub-Areas in the District.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 8
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
Figure A7 Distribution of Sub Areas in Hart District
Sub Area A: West Area (Wards: Eversley, Hartley Wintney, Hook, Odiham and Long Sutton)
There are seven public (non-school or MOD) cricket pitches in Sub Area A, the largest number of any of the sub areas. Sub area A is also geographically the largest area. This reflects the essentially rural nature of cricket provision in Hart.
Sub Area B: North East Area (Wards: Yateley North, Yateley West, Yateley East, Frogmoor & Darby Green and Blackwater & Hawley)
Sub Area B has four public cricket pitches, two at Sean Devereux Park, one at Blackwater and Hawley Leisure Centre and one NTP at Yateley Green.
Sub Area C: South East Area (Wards: Fleet Pondtail, Fleet Central, Fleet West, Fleet Courtmoor, Church Crookham West, Church Crookham East).
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 9
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
This Sub Area has five grass cricket pitches: Calthorpe Park in Fleet, Hook Meadow in Crondall and Dogmersfield, and Cody Sports and Social Club on the edge of Farnborough close to the district boundary with Rushmoor Borough.
3. Pitch Demand (Step 3)
For all four sports included in the PPS scope, the following pitch demand information, see diagram below, has been gathered, as available, by a combination of data collection and
review, surveys and consultations:
Figure A8: Pitch Demand Overview Sources of information – The sources of information used to establish current pitch demand were: o Booking records of pitch providers where provided (e.g. some schools, clubs and sports associations); plus club survey returns (cricket, football and hockey) re: teams, patterns of use, unmet demand. o Sport England tools - Active People Survey data, Sports Market Segmentation (SMS) - trends and latent demand. o The HBC Planning Team provided - population forecasts and distribution by age groups relevant to particular sports. o NGBs - NGB Insight Data, league websites, participation policies and trends, local information on displaced demand.
Cricket Demand Findings relating to cricket pitch demand in Hart are summarised below.
Active People Survey Active People Survey 8 (Oct 2013 - Oct 2014) shows that 0.39% of adults (16+) in England play cricket for at least 30 minutes once a week. In the South East, participation is exactly the same as the national average at 0.39%. Comparable data at sub-regional, county and District level is not available due to insufficient sample size.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 10
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
If cricket participation in Hart were at the Hampshire average, this would indicate around 170 adults (16+) living in the District play cricket (out of an adult population of approximately 43,836 (male and females) in the prime 16-55yrs age range for cricket participation). This varies enormously from league data for the 2015 season, i.e. approximately 47 adult cricket teams (Men’s and Ladies, league, friendly and occasional) at clubs based in Hart. Assuming an average of 15 players per team squad, this represents 705 players aged 16+ playing cricket in Hart.
Market Segmentation and Latent Demand As Figures A9 and A10 below demonstrate, there is higher demand from those Sports Market Segmentation Groups aged 18-25 (males and females) playing and wanting to play cricket in Hart compared to in other parts of Hampshire. These groups are also characterised by relatively high latent demand for cricket.
Clubs and facility providers can target these young adult groups by providing the right facilities accessible at no or low cost and by organising the right programmes - for example 'Easy Cricket' fun sessions or 'Last Man Standing' 20/20 games - to engage new participants.
The ECB and Hampshire Cricket Board consultees consider there to be some latent demand for cricket in the District which, through appropriate deployment of resources, can be converted into regular participation.
Figure A9: Market Segmentation – currently particpating in Cricket
Source: Sport England Sports Market Segmentation (May 2015)
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 11
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
Figure A10: Market Segmentation – would like to particpate in Cricket
Source: Sport England Sports Market Segmentation (May 2015) Figure A11: Cricket Expressed Demand Hart based open age cricket clubs 2014 league Home ground Other grounds used and teams Dogmersfield CC SAT: Thames Valley St John’s Ground N/A . 2 Sat league teams SUN: Thames Valley . 1 Sun league teams . U17 . U15 . 2 U13 . U11 . U9
Sub Area A Fleet CC SAT: Thames Valley Calthorpe Park N/A . 3 Sat league teams Youth: N Hants Y . 2 U9 League . 2 U11 . 2 U13 . U15 . U17
Sub Area C Hartley Wintney CC SAT: SEPCL, The Green Hartley Bramshill Police College . 6 Sat league teams HL;3Counties Wintney (ceased in 2015) . 1 Ladies team Ladies: LHCL . 3 U9 Youth: N Hants Y . 3 U11 League . 2 U13 . 1 U15 . 1 U17 . 1 U10 Girls . 1 U16 Girls
Sub Area A Yateley CC Thames Valley and Sean Devereux Park N/A . 5 Sat league teams Surrey Trust. Ladies, . 1 Ladies . Occasional midweek
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 12
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
Hart based open age cricket clubs 2014 league Home ground Other grounds used and teams . 9 U9 to U19 Hampshire Cricket League. Colts, North Sub Area B Hants Leagues. Eversley CC Thames Valley League, Eversley Sports N/A . 4 Sat league teams North Hampshire Association . 2 Sun team (friendly) Youth Three adjoining . 1 Ladies Cricket League, grounds at the same . 3 at U9, Hampshire Cricket address: . 3 at U11, League "Cross Green", "Fox . 2 at U13, Lane" & "Pony Field" . 1 at U15, . 1 at U17, . 1 at U10 girls, . 1 at U16 girls
Sub Area A Crown Taverners CC Hampshire Leagues Minley Road, adjacent N/A . Three league teams, (Saturday), plus local to M3 J4a and . one ad-hoc Sunday business league Crown and Cushion . team, pub . an indoor 6-a-side team
Sub Area A Odiham & Greywell CC Hampshire Cricket Odiham & Greywell CC Crondall Cricket club . 6 men League & NHYCL Long Lane, Odiham (Hook Meadow) . 1 Ladies . 1 U7 . 3 U9 . 3 U11 . 2 U13 . 1 U15 . 1 U17 . 1 U10 Girls . 1 U15 Girls
Sub Area A Hook & Newham Basics CC Thames Valley King George V Playing Rotherwick PF Post . 1 Sun team North Hants Youth Field, Hook Common House Lane . 4 Men’s Teams League . 1 Men’s Midweek Stratton Park, Pack Lane . 1 U19 (Out of District) . 1 U17 . 2 U13 . 2 U11 . 2U9 . U 14 Girls . U 16 Girls
Sub Area A Crondall CC Thames Valley Hook Meadow N/A . 1 Sun league team
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 13
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
Hart based open age cricket clubs 2014 league Home ground Other grounds used and teams
Sub Area C Rotherwick CC Thames Valley Rotherwick PF. N/A . Saturday Men's team . Midweek Men’s Team
Sub Area A
In summary, 41 adult teams (male & female x four) regularly play home league cricket on pitches in the District on Saturdays, and around six teams play home league or friendly matches on Sundays and occasional midweek games.
In the 2015 season there are 66 junior boys and eight junior girls cricket teams playing cricket regularly in the District - i.e. approximately 1,000 young people playing cricket to age 16.
Casual Demand Less organised forms of informal play (using free to use net systems and non-turf facilities in public parks, as well as hard-surface areas such as MUGAs, streets, footpaths and hard standing areas on housing estates) are a growing feature of cricket demand nationally, particularly among teenagers and young adults in the Black and Asian minority ethnic (BME) communities. The Asian community is well represented in Hart and are a growing mainstay of some club memberships (e.g. Crown Taverners CC).
Much of this semi-formal play is best suited to take place on existing sites and should be encouraged and led by clubs, but outside of the formal league structure. The strategy should encourage clubs to engage with all age groups wishing to participate in less formal forms of cricket. This will be carried forward to the Action Plan.
Displaced Demand In the consultations carried out, limited exported displaced demand was identified, i.e. teams from clubs based in Hart using grounds in neighbouring boroughs for home fixtures. Hook & Newham Basics require a regular booking of pitches in a neighbouring borough (at Stratton Park in Basingstoke).
All clubs have confirmed that the majority of their club's players live within Hart.
Trend in Demand for Team Cricket Most clubs reports either a stable number or a decline in the number of adult men's teams in recent seasons but an increase in U11s demand. Most clubs who have plans to increase the number of their teams are focussing on youth teams.
4. The situation at individual sites (Step 4)
Cricket Sites The grass cricket pitches were assessed in the first weeks of the 2015 season. These assessments were reviewed in discussion with representatives of the ECB and clubs. Ratings for each agreed as a basis for comparison of the amount of play each site can accommodate (its carrying capacity) against the amount of play that takes place.
Carrying capacity is a measure of the number of match equivalent sessions per season for community use each pitch can take without adversely affecting its quality and use.
It was agreed with the ECB representative to adopt the following pitch carrying capacities according to each quality rating to be consistent with the approach adopted in similar assessments in other Hampshire boroughs (see Figure A12):
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 14
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
Figure A12: Cricket Pitch Carrying Capacity Pitch Quality Rating Match equivalent sessions per grass wicket per season Good 5 Standard 3 Poor 1
Figure A13 below summarised the situation at each cricket site with regard to:
1. Pitch supply (including the quality ratings) and conclusions reached as to the amount of play a site can accommodate (i.e. its carrying capacity for community use). 2. The amount of play that takes place at each site (i.e. the expressed demand) adjusted to reflect any casual or education use in addition to club use for matches and training. 3. The comparison (shown as a RAG rating) as to whether, for each pitch type it contains, a site is:
. RED - Being overplayed (current use exceeds the carrying capacity) . AMBER - Being played to the level the site can sustain, or . GREEN - Potentially able to accommodate some additional play (current use falls significantly below the carrying capacity).
Figure A13: Situation at Individual Sites – Grass Pitches Site Pitch Rating No. Pitch Est. RA Comments/ Assumptions Wk Cap. Use G t Dogmersfield CC St 90% Good 6 30 20 Used by two Sat league teams and one Sun John’s Ground league teams. Spare capacity, both peak (weekends) and off-peak (weekdays). However, poor changing & little promotion restrict demand. Bramshill Police Standard 3 9 0 Used by Hartney Wintney CC for occasional College fixtures in 2015 Calthorpe Park 89% Good 12 60 45 Used on Sat for 18 weeks (three home men’s teams and eight youth teams) plus some Sun and midweek games. Training every week day evening on site. Cody Sports & Poor 15 15 3 Occasional fixtures only since Pyestock CC Social Club left and became nomadic club in 2013 The Green Hartley 93% Good 12 60 60 Used on Sat & Sun for 18 wks. (Six Sat Wintney league teams plus one Ladies team) plus midweek games per season. The ground is also used for community events on weekends. While this is a large, well- maintained square with high carrying capacity it is necessary to play some games at Bramshill Police College and there is no spare capacity. Sean Devereux Park 94% Good 13 65 60 Used on Sat for 18 weeks (five men and one (Pitch 1) women’s home teams) plus some Sun and midweek games. Minimal spare capacity. Sean Devereux Park 94% Good 11 55 40 Used on Sat/Sun for 22 weeks and some (Pitch 2) midweek junior and senior matches. Eversley Sports 92% Good 12 60 40 Used on Sat for 18 weeks (four men Association Saturday, two men’s Sun and one women’s (Pitch 1)
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 15
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
Site Pitch Rating No. Pitch Est. RA Comments/ Assumptions Wk Cap. Use G t home teams) plus some midweek games. Minimal spare capacity. Eversley Sports 92% Good 12 60 40 Used on Sat for 18 weeks (four men Association Saturday, two men’s Sun and one women’s (Pitch 2) home teams) plus some midweek games. Extensive use by Colts teams means that there is only minimal spare capacity. Crown Taverners - 90% Good 6 30 20 Three league teams, one ad-hoc Sunday Minley Road team, plus an indoor 6-a-side team 15 league home games plus some mid-week and friendlies. Odiham & Greywell 93% Good 10 50 60 Used on Sat for 18 weeks (five men and one Long Lane women’s home teams) plus midweek games. Games are also played at Crondall (Hook meadow). No spare capacity. King George V PF 98% Good 12 60 60 Used as main ground by Hook & Newham Hook Common Basics four men’s teams, plus one midweek plus one Sun and by 12 youth teams. Main ground but matches also played at Rotherwick and Stratton Park. Rotherwick Playing 68% 8 24 20 Used by Rotherwick CC (one men’s plus one Fields Post House Standard midweek and H&N Basics. Lane Stratton Park 62% 13 39 40 Spare capacity (peak and off peak) used to Basingstoke (Out of Standard accommodate matches and practice by District) H&N Basics CC as well as B&D based clubs. Hook Meadow PF 89% Good 12 60 30 Used by Crondall CC (one men’s Team) plus Odiham & Greywell for overspill Some spare capacity. Gibraltar Barracks 68% 10 30 20 Military use mainly. Some spare capacity, Standard mainly off peak. Bramshill Police 62% 3 9 10 Site sold, used for overspill matches by college Standard Hartley Wintney CC. Long Sutton 89% Good 11 55 28 Sat League play for 18 wks. plus some Sun Recreation Ground friendly games and hires by local school. Poor changing and flood defences limit demand. Spare capacity, mainly Sun (peak) and midweek (off peak). Lord Wandsworth 94% Good 12 60 20 School use only College (Pitch 1) Lord Wandsworth 94% Good 12 60 20 School use only College (Pitch 2) St Neots 94%Good 8 40 20 School use only Preparatory School
Figure A13 above shows that only two grounds are under pressure from use. Odiham and Greywell are a successful club and are seeking to expand their provision. The Green at Hartley Wintney is used for local social events as well as cricket and the club already use the small table at Bramshill Police College, which itself is under threat.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 16
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
5. The current and future pictures of provision (Step 5)
Cricket provision
Current Overall, there are sufficient cricket pitches in the District (assuming the proposed new facilities are provided as planned at Hervey Road) to meet current demand.
In terms of the distribution of pitch supply, there is a clear imbalance in the District with the majority of supply falling in Sub Area A, a single park pitch and school in Sub Area B (Sean Devereux Park and Yateley Manor School School) and two pitches in Sub Area C (Calthorpe Park and Hook Meadow).
The quality of supply is very good with 80% of pitches being rated good, with only two publicly accessible pitches being rated as ‘standard’. The only poor rated grass wickets in Hart at Cody SSC are rarely used since the Pyestock CC left, and most pitches are rated standard or good although in some cases the outfields could be improved, e.g. Sean Devereux Park). Most of the ‘standard’ rated pitches are in parks or on school sites where, in most cases, the quality of ancillary changing facilities is also poor.
Security of access is a concern at three sites; Bramshill Police College and Cody Sports & Social Club (due to ownership and tenure issues) and Crown Taverners CC where, currently, there is only cricket activity due to the generosity of club members. There is no changing in the pavilion and a porta-cabin is in use. This site is leased from the MOD and the club are considering surrendering their lease at the end of the current term. These sites are considered as at risk of permanent loss for cricket. The Action Plan must consider potential sites for the replacement of Bramshill Police College as a matter of immediate need and for Crown Taverners and Cody Sports & Social Club should this prove necessary.
In the 2014 cricket seasons expressed demand for hires on open access park pitches was minimal. This lack of take up of pitch capacity at the park pitches is a concern for the Parish and Town Councils who own these sites, as they cannot justify the investment by their Council and partners in providing pitches for casual bookings. There is, therefore, a risk that some Parish Councils will determine that it is not viable for them to provide such pitches in the future, although there is no indication that any particular sites are under threat at this time.
Future Potential effect of population change - Future population growth figures have been calculated for the period of this strategy against the primary age groups for cricket participation in each Sub Area. The figure below shows the forecast population change.
Figure A14: Potential Population change by Sub Area in Primary Cricket Age Groups Sport and Age Groups 2014 Population 2020 Population Population Change Sub Area A - Cricket Open Age Men’s (18-55yrs) 6,108 6,395 4.7% Cricket Open Age Women’s (18-55yrs) 5,704 6,005 5.3% Cricket Junior Boys (7-18yrs) 1,924 2,030 5.5% Cricket Junior Girls (7-18yrs) 1,707 1,859 8.9% Sub Area B - Cricket Open Age Men’s (18-55yrs) 5,641 5,302 -6.0% Cricket Open Age Women’s (18-55yrs) 5,676 5,366 -5.5%
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 17
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
Sport and Age Groups 2014 Population 2020 Population Population Change
Cricket Junior Boys (7-18yrs) 1,751 1,636 -6.6% Cricket Junior Girls (7-18yrs) 1,609 1,529 -5.0% Sub Area C - Cricket Open Age Men’s (18-55yrs) 10,301 10,259 -0.4% Cricket Open Age Women’s (18-55yrs) 10,406 10,589 1.8% Cricket Junior Boys (7-18yrs) 3,264 3,483 6.7% Cricket Junior Girls (7-18yrs) 3,083 3,321 7.7% TOTAL Cricket Open Age Men’s (18-55yrs) 22,050 21,956 -0.4% Cricket Open Age Women’s (18-55yrs) 21,786 21,960 0.8% Cricket Junior Boys (7-18yrs) 6,939 7,149 3.0% Cricket Junior Girls (7-18yrs) 6,399 6,709 4.8% Source: HDC Planning Service, October 2014 Figure A14 shows that the largest forecast population growth is in Sub Area A where there is the greatest existing pitch supply, and to a lesser extent, Sub Area C, where a growth in the younger population is predicted. It will therefore be important to protect access to the existing pitches in this area and seek opportunities where they arise to enhance the quality of changing at Calthorpe Park which is currently very poor (Sub Area C) and the Sean Devereux Park outfield (Sub Area A), which is currently rated as poor due to is uneven surface.
Opportunities for additional provision in Sub Area A should also be pursued, e.g. create additional capacity at Odiham. However, additional capacity at this ground, should it happen, will only accommodate the club’s own growing needs and would not contribute to any loss of provision elsewhere.
The strategic approach in Sub Area B, where the population is forecast to fall, should be to focus on protecting existing playing fields, securing access for cricket at those fields where cricket is at risk, and enhancing those pitches and practice facilities currently in use where most needed. These playing fields and cricket facilities are needed to serve unmet and projected demand from the other, more densely populated Sub Areas where there is little provision currently and where opportunities for new provision are limited due to lack of available open space and high land values.
Figure A15: Population Projections and Cricket Team Generation Rates Age Group No. Pop in age Future Pop in Current Team Pop change Potential cricket group 2014 age group Generation in age group change in teams Rate cricket team 2014 no's Open Age Men’s 43 23,490 23,809 546 319 0.6 Open Age Women’s 4 23,198 23,828 5,799 630 0 Junior Boys 66 7,353 8,520 111 1167 +10.5 Junior Girls 8 6,847 7,911 856 1064 +1.25
Figure A15 shows that, assuming current cricket participation, team generation rates and the forecast population growth takes place, there will be approximately the same number of adult teams and between 11 and 12 more junior teams in Hart. These teams will require access to match pitches, practice facilities and places to play informal forms of the game.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 18
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
Potential effect of demand trends, participation targets, how pitch sports are played – National trends show a reduction in interest in taking part in sports that demand a commitment to regular attendance, in favour of a more informal involvement.
The ECB report an upward demand for informal forms of the game and public net practice facilities, particularly among young people and Black and Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. This includes various forms of the game played in the street or using footpaths for wickets, Kwik cricket for younger children, and shorter, more inclusive versions of cricket (e.g. Last Man Standing, 20/20).
Practice Net Systems - An implication of these trends for this playing pitch strategy is that existing open access facilities for cricket in parks and open spaces managed by the District and Parish / Town Councils need to be retained and maintained. Opportunities to provide, robust low maintenance public net facilities in public open spaces in those areas of the District not currently served should also be considered as part of the Action Plan.
NTPs - In addition consideration should be given to the feasibility of providing free to access NTPs and opportunities to secure public access to the existing NTPs at Court Moor School and Calthorpe Park School should be considered and more schools encouraged and supported to provide NTPs where community access is secured.
Potential effect of changes in supply – The most significant change in supply anticipated is the provision of an additional pitch with pavilion at Odiham and Greywell. If successful, it is likely that this new provision will meet increasing demand for junior cricket resulting from forecast population growth in this age group.
6. Key findings and issues (Step 6)
Figure A16: Cricket Key Findings and Issues Cricket The main There has been significant investment in pitches since the last facility review and further characteristics investment is planned at ESA. of the current supply of and The District is home to several large and successful cricket clubs with good quality pitch and demand for ancillary facilities and an active cricket development group. provision This facility and coaching infrastructure ensures that, overall, there is a good level of opportunities for residents of Hart to learn and play cricket at all ages, both males and females.
An issue for the strategy is how best to respond to growth in demand for free to access facilities to play informal forms of the game. This is a growing feature of cricket demand nationally, particularly among teenagers and young adults in the BAME communities.
None of the cricket clubs based in Hart have expressed current plans for growth in adult teams. The NGB considers that the main source of growth in the game in Hart will be in informal forms of game driven by growth in the size of the young population in particular. Significant levels of growth in junior cricket in the District will require more schools to support the game and provide open access to NTPs on their playing fields.
Is there YES. Current supply broadly meets current demand for traditional forms of league and friendly enough match play cricket. This type of demand has been in slight decline in recent seasons. accessible and secured Lack of security of access is a concern at a number of sites in the District where league cricket community is currently played. Displacement of teams resulting from a loss of access to any of these sites use provision could not be comfortably accommodated at other sites with spare capacity at peak times. to meet current There is growing demand for free to access facilities, whether grass, NTPs, net systems or hard demand? surface, for children and young adults to play informal games. However, at present, informal
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 19
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment
games on park pitches are discouraged so as to maintain them for hired use and none have NTPs available.
Is the Yes. There are no significant issues of quality and maintenance of the fine turf pitches in club provision that sites or at the pitches at schools. Lack of sufficient financial resources for adequate pitch is accessible maintenance within clubs is an issue for maintenance at a number of the cricket sites in the of sufficient District. quality and appropriately Where management of park cricket facilities is devolved to cricket/sports specialists maintained? (responsible for promotion, bookings and maintenance of the square), expressed demand is greater and quality is higher.
What are the The main proposals for new provision affecting future supply are: main Eversley Sports Association – plans for additional senior and junior cricket pitches on a characteristics new 20 acre extension, together with additional outdoor cricket practice nets. of the future Odiham and Greywell CC – plans for an additional square on adjacent land supply and Hartley Wintney CC - A new ground has been designed to meet ECB standards as part demand for of a new housing development at North East Hook. provision? These proposals would increase the current supply by three grass cricket squares. However, this increase would be negated in the event of loss of the three wicket square at Bramshill Police College and the possible loss of one square at Crown Taverners CC and two poor quality squares at Cody Sports & Social Club. In terms of the overall supply, the three new proposals would in broad terms offset the loss of wickets at the three sites at risk should they cease to be available for community cricket.
The spatial planning strategy and policies for Hart assume growth over the plan period. The main growth is forecast for two of the three Sub Areas with concentrations in wards in Sub Areas A and C.
Assuming current team generation rates in each sport, the forecast population growth will potentially generate demand for the following additional teams:
Age Group No. cricket Pop in age Future Pop Current Pop Potential teams group 2014 in age Team change in change in 2014 group Generation age group cricket Rate team no's Open Age 43 23,490 23,809 546 319 0.6 Men’s Open Age 4 5,799 630 0 23,198 23,828 Women’s Junior Boys 66 7,353 8,520 111 1167 +10.5 Junior Girls 8 6,847 7,911 856 1064 +1.25
Is there Yes – for formal matches. The fall trend in demand for formal forms of adult cricket, together enough with low levels of additional demand resulting from low population growth in the District to accessible and 2020 will mean that the existing supply will be adequate for future needs (modelled to increase secured the number of teams at current participation rates by two junior teams). There is, however, community not enough accessible and secured provision of facilities for free informal games of cricket to use provision meet future demand. There will be demand for more NTPs and net-systems - in accessible to meet future open spaces or on school sites with community access. No sites have yet been identified for demand? such provision, but there is potential for such provision at Sean Devereux Park, Calthorpe Park, Eversley Sports Association, King George V Playing Field Hook and Rotherwick Playing Field.
What is the The overall quality level of cricket pitch provision in Hart is mainly good. overall quality level? There are several examples of high quality pitches and ancillary facilities, e.g. at The Green Hartley Wintney, and King George V Playing Field and some of the facilities provided by
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 20
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Cricket Final Report Appendix A – July Amendment independent schools and their sports associations, e.g. Yateley Manor School. The outfield at Sean Devereux Park is currently uneven and requires enhancement.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix A: P a g e | 21
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Appendix B – Assessment of Need - Football
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 67 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Appendix B Football - Assessment of Needs (Stages B & C) 1. Pitch Supply (Step 2)
For all three sports included in the PPS scope – cricket, football, hockey and rugby - the following pitch supply information, see diagram below, has been gathered, as far as possible, by a combination of data collection and review, surveys and consultations:
Figure B1: Pitch Supply Overview
Sources of information – The sources of information used to establish current pitch supply were: latest Sport England Active Places Power audit for playing pitches in Hart; relevant NGB, county board and club websites; NGB insight data (where available); venue owners/operators/grounds staff (where present on site visits) and with NGB national and regional/county PPS leads; online survey returns from sports clubs, schools, and NGBs.
Site visits and inspections -Insight from site visits and discussions with owners, managers, club officials or ground staff as available formed the base data to enable the pitch inspections (using non-technical quality assessment forms) to be undertaken. Changes to pitch layouts and numbers since the last Active Places audit are recorded to provide an up to date record of pitch quantity and quality in Hart.
NGB verifications - On completion of the audit, NGB representatives reviewed the pitch quality ratings and the pitch carrying capacity, based on the quality assessment. It is this agreed carrying capacity rating that has been used in the site-specific needs assessments.
Findings - The pitch supply information for Hart as set out in Figure B1 above has been collated and entered in Spreadsheets (one for each pitch sport) detailing: . Current Supply . Current Demand . Site Overviews (current supply and demand balance) . Future Supply and Demand (taking into account forthcoming changes in the supply of pitches and projected population change.
Football Supply Findings relating to football pitch supply in Hart are summarised below.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: Page | 1 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Number of grass pitches In the 2014/15 season, there are a total of 82 grass pitches (marked out with goalposts), of which 50 grass pitches have been identified as openly available for community football use at 18 operational sites in Hart. There are 28 School pitches on 12 school sites available for public use outside of school hours, 1 private pitch used for league games and 3 MOD pitches, a total of 82 grass football pitches on 33 sites.
The data indicates that 30 teams at Hart-based clubs play on pitches in neighbouring boroughs (e.g. Basingstoke and Rushmoor). Whilst this sometimes may be an indicator of an under-supply of suitable quality pitches in the District, it may equally be the case that some Hart-based clubs find out of District pitches more accessible and more suitable for their needs.
The data also reveal a discrepancy in distribution of football pitches between the Sub Areas, with Sub Area A, the West of the District, having significantly less pitches per head of population than the other two Sub Areas in the East. However, this has not been identified as an issue by clubs, and the population of the District is very mobile and short travelling times between the Sub Areas mean that there are still accessible pitches for anyone in the District wishing to play football.
Size of grass pitches The percentage split of Hart based teams by age group in 2014/15 is 18% of teams adult, 40% youth and 42% Mini-Soccer and shown in Figure B2. When compared to the existing pitch supply, this would appear to indicate a need to prioritise supply of pitches suitable for youth football (U11 to U18) i.e. 9v9 and 11v11 youth pitches, and mini soccer (U 10) i.e. 7v7 and 5v5 pitches.
Figure B2: Pitch Size / Team Comparison Pitch Supply Teams operating in Hart Senior 34 41% 44 18% (inc 4 ladies) Youth 11v11 & 9v9 30 37% 96 40% (Dedicated pitches) (inc 7 girls) Mini 7v7 & 5v5 18 22% 98 42% (Dedicated pitches) Total 82 100% 238 100% (Hart based clubs)
Ownership, Operation, Quality and Access Hart has recently transferred the management of open access pitches (marked and equipped with goals for either formal or informal play during park opening hours) to Parish and Town Councils wherever this has been possible. In particular, the following major facilities owned by Hart District Council delivering community football have been transferred and are now operated by these Parish and Town Councils:
. Peter Driver playing fields – Church Crookham Parish Council . Calthorpe Park tennis courts, football pitches and parkland – Fleet Town Council . Oakley Park football pitches, play area and woodland – Fleet Town Council . Basingbourne football pitch, play area and woodland – Fleet Town Council . Elvetham Heath football pitches - Elvetham Heath Parish Council . Zebon Copse football pitches and play areas - Crookham Village Parish Council
As resources for maintenance available to Parish and Town Councils decline, the standard of maintenance might also be expected to fall, and this has, in fact, been reported as the case by clubs. However, all pitches are currently still actively marked and maintained by the Parish and Town Councils and the standard of maintenance, as revealed by the pitch quality survey, is still good.
Figure B3: Number / Size of Publicly Available Pitches
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: P a g e | 2
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Site & Sub Area Overmarked Pitch Number & Quality Score Security of Ancillary Facilities Access Quality Ancells Farm No Football 1 Youth 9x9 75.7% Secure Changing 44.6% Standard Standard Sub Area C Football 2 Adult 11x11 78.6% Standard Basingbourne No Football 1 Adult 11x11 77.1% Secure 49.2% Standard Changing Park Standard old and tired
Sub Area C Blackwater & No Football 1 Youth 9x9 Standard Poor/standard Hawley Leisure Football 2 Mini 7x7 Standard Secure Centre Football 3 Adult 11x11 Standard Sub Area B Calthrope Park No Football 1 Mini 5x5 62.9% Secure – Leased Poor Standard to Football club Sub Area C Football 2 Mini 5x5 70.0% Standard Football 3 Mini 7x7 72.9% Standard Football 4 Mini 7x7 60.0% Standard Football 5 Mini 7x7 74.3% Standard Flat site with poor drainage. Very uneven surface across all pitches Cody Sports & Yes Football 1 Adult Floodlit SIte is owned by Standard Social Club Standard QinetiQ and Ground Football 2 Youth 9v9 (over- managed by marked as 2 Mini 7v7/5v5) Cody Sports & Sub Area C Standard Social Club - Football 1 Mini 7v7 Uncertain Standard security of tenure Football Mini 5v5 - lease may have Standard expired. Darby Green No Football 1 Mini 5x5 72.9% Secure Changing 100% Good Playing Fields Standard Football 2 Adult 11x11 85.7% Sub Area B Good
Elvetham Heath No Football 1 Youth 11x11 Secure Changing 63.1% Standard 72.9% Standard Sub Area C Eversley Sports No Football 1 Adult 11x11 Good Secure – Owned Changing 100% Good Association Football 2 Youth 9x9 Good by Eversley Football 3 Adult 11x11 Good Sports Sub Area B Football 4 Youth 9x9 Good Association Football 5 Youth 11x11 Good Football 6 Youth 9x9 Good Football 7 Mini 7x7 Good Football 8 Mini 7x7 Good Football 9 Youth 11x11 Good
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: Page | 3 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Site & Sub Area Overmarked Pitch Number & Quality Score Security of Ancillary Facilities Access Quality Farnham Road No Football 1 Adult 11x11 100% Secure Changing 100% Good Recreation Good Ground
Sub Area C Frogmore No Football 1 Adult 11x11 Poor Secure Changing 92.3% Good Leisure Centre Football 2 Youth Poor AGP 1 Good Sub Area B Hartletts Park No Football 1 Youth 9x9 Good Secure Changing will be via Hook Football 2 Youth 9x9 Standard access to the Community Football 3 Mini 5x5 72.9% Centre once the Sub Area A Standard refurbishment is Football 4 Mini 7x7 72.9% complete (due spring Standard 2015). Teams will have access to changing rooms, toilets and showers. Long Sutton No Football 1 Adult 11x11 Secure Changing 70% Good Recreation 80.0% Good Ground
Sub Area A Hartley Wintney No Football 1 Adult 11x11 Secure Changing 73.8% Good Memorial (Stadium pitch) 92.9% Good Ground Football 2 Adult 11x11 84.3% Good Sub Area C North No Football 1 Adult 11x11 80% Secure Changing 67.7% Good Wanborough Old Good Boys Fc
Sub Area A Oakeley Park No Football 1 Youth 9x9 97.1% Secure Changing 60% Standard Good Sub Area C Football 2 Youth 11x11 87.1% Good Peter Driver No Football 1 Adult 11x11 84.1% Secure Changing 90.8% Good Sports Ground Good Football 2 Adult 11x11 84.3% Sub Area C Good Rotherwick No Football 1 Adult 11x11 85.7% Secure Changing 53.8% standard Playing Fields Good
Sub Area A The Sean No Football 1 Adult 11x11 90% Secure Changing 75.4% Good Devereux Park Good (Home of Yateley Football 2 Mini 7x7 94.3% United) Good Football 3 Mini 7x7 87.1% Sub Area B Good Football 4 Adult 11x11 87.1% Good
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: P a g e | 4
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Site & Sub Area Overmarked Pitch Number & Quality Score Security of Ancillary Facilities Access Quality Football 5 Mini 7x7 100% Good Football 6 Mini 7x7 100% Good Football 7 Youth 11x11 90% Good Football 8 Youth 9x9 92.9% Good
The Zebon Copse No Football 1Youth 9x9 100% Secure Changing 83.1% good Centre Good Football 2 Adult 11x11 91.4% Sub Area C Good Football 3 Mini 7x7 97.1% Good Yateley Green No Football 1 Adult 11x11 Secure Changing 67.7% good 90% Good Sub Area B Football 2 Youth 9x9 94.3% Good Football 3 Mini Good Yateley Health & Yes Football 1 Adult 11x11 Secure Changing 92.3% good Fitness 9x9 over- 70% Standard marked on Football 2 Adult 11x11 Sub Area B Football 3 70% Standard Adult 11x11 Football 3 Youth 9x9 70% Standard
Figure B4 shows the following schools in the District offer pitch facilities to community football clubs and teams to hire for organised play or training.
Figure B4: Number / Size of School Based Pitches Site & Sub Area Overmarked Pitch Number & Quality Score Security of Ancillary Facilities Access Quality All Saints C Of E No Football 1 Youth 11x11 77.1% Unsecured - School Changing Junior School Standard Mainly Schools 63.1% Standard use – some Sub Area C training Calthorpe Park Yes Football 1 Youth 11x11 82.9% Unsecured - School Changing School Temporary Good Secure use by 63.1% standard car park Football 2 Youth 11x11 82.9% junior teams only Sub Area C covers fourth Good through informal pitch which Football 3 Youth 11x11 77.1% agreement will be re- Standard instated in 15/16 Court Moor Yes Football 1 Youth 9x9 81.4% Unsecured - School Changing School Good Mainly Schools 63.1% standard Football 2 Youth 9x9 84.3% use – Some Sub Area C Good training AGP 1 Good Frogmore Junior No Football 1 Youth 11x11 78.6% Unsecured - School Changing School Standard Secure use by 63.1% Standard junior teams only Sub Area B through informal agreement
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: P a g e | 5
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Site & Sub Area Overmarked Pitch Number & Quality Score Security of Ancillary Facilities Access Quality
Lord No Football 1 Youth 11x11 90.0% Secure - By School Changing Wandsworth Good Pitch one used by agreement with 63.1% Standard College Odiham & Greywell FC Odiham and Football 2 Youth 11x11 94.3% Greywell FC only Sub Area A Good Football 3 Youth 11x11 94.3% Good AGP 1 Good AGP 2 Good Robert May's No Football 1 Youth 11x11 94.3% Unsecured - School Changing School Good Mainly Schools 63.1% standard Football 2 Youth 7x7 87.1% use – Some Sub Area A Good training AGP 1 Good Velmead Junior No Football 1 Youth 11x11 72.9 Unsecured - School Changing School Standard Mainly Schools 63.1% School Standard use – Some Sub Area B training Westfields Junior Yes Football 1 Youth 9x9 70% Unsecured School Changing 63.1% School Yateley Standard Football 2 Youth Standard Standard Sub Area B Football 3 Adult Standard Yateley Manor No Football 1 Youth 9x9 75.7% Unsecured - School Changing Preparatory Standard Mainly Schools 63.1% Standard School Football 2 Mini Standard use – Available but not used Sub Area B
Figure B5: Private Pitches Site & Sub Area Overmarked Pitch Number & Quality Score Security of Ancillary Facilities Access Quality Bramshill Police No Two playing fields: Home Office sold N/A College 1. Arranged as 2 11v11 site in 2015. Risk football pitches and one rugby of loss of Sub Area A pitch of standard quality. community 2. Poor quality cricket pitch access (football (adjacent to bowls green) with only at present) 3 wickets plus low grade NTP, and two good quality NT nets Fleet Town No Football 1 Adult 11x11 100% Public use not Changing & Social90.8% Football And good Floodlit Secured Good Social Club
Sub Area C The Abercorn No Football 1 adult 11x11 78.6% Public use not Changing & social 75.4% Standard Secured Good Sub Area C
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: P a g e | 6
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Figure B6: MOD pitches Site & Sub Area Overmarked Pitch Number & Quality Score Security of Ancillary Facilities Access Quality Gibraltar No Football 1 Adult 11x11 Unsecured access N/a Barracks Standard - At discretion of Football 2 Adult 11x11 MOD - no risk to Sub Area B Standard continued access identified in short term. RAF Odiham No Football 1 Adult 11x11 91.4% Unsecured access Changing 60% Standard Gymnasium Good - At discretion of Football 2 Adult 11x11 77.1% MOD - no risk to Sub Area A Standard continued access identified.
Sites / Pitches Prone to Match Postponements A number of the operational playing field sites (or specific pitches on these sites) in the District are particularly prone to flooding in prolonged periods of wet winter weather. These sites / pitches include Sean Devereux Park and the Cody Sports & Social Club, which are major venues for junior football in Hart. The pitches on the former site were in good condition when inspected, but periods of wet weather could easily result in a rapid deterioration in their quality over a short timescale. This is a low lying site and additional drainage is unlikely to provide a permanent solution. This may require further investigation and will be taken forward as an issue for the Action Plan.
Hartley Wintney Memorial Park also has severe drainage issues and Hartletts Park, which is public land, has issues with dog fouling, litter and glass. Pitches 2, 3 & 4 all have drainage issues and Hook United Juniors have struggled to host matches because of this. These issues also need to be addressed in the Action Plan.
Parish and Town Council Sites It has been reported by some clubs that the standard of maintenance on sites taken over by Parish and Town Councils from Hart District Council has declined. However, the site inspections did not bear this out and the standard of Parish and Town Council maintained pitches was generally good. The Steering Group should form a view on whether these transfers have been successful or not by monitoring this.
Unsecured Sites The following sites are identified as presenting a significant risk of loss of access to community football due to ownership/tenure issues:
1. Bramshill Police College – One football pitch hired on season-long agreement to a junior football team. The site has been sold and planning consent sought by for change of use.
2. Cody Sports & Social Club - the club's lease from the site owners, QinetiQ, is believed to have expired although the site continues to operate for community sport (predominantly football and bowls) and for social activities.
Bramshill - Hook United Youth currently use Bramshill Police College to support 11 v 11 youth football for several youth teams including U13 sides. The current agreement with the College ran out on 31st March 2015 as the land has been sold. They have managed to secure an extension so that they can complete this season and are trying to talk to the new owners as to the possibility of using the pitches going forward. However, as it stands they do not have any commitment. If the Club can't secure an agreement they will be left with nowhere to play 11 v 11 youth football in future seasons. The Club is continuing to look for land, but have nothing secured yet.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: Page | 7 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Cody Sports & Social Club - Crookham Rovers Youth currently use this site extensively (as one of four pitch venues) to support mini soccer and youth football including matches on Saturdays and Sundays and evening training on the floodlit pitch on three evenings a week. Crookham Rovers Teams playing at Cody SSC are: U6 (Sundays 0930-1030); U7x2; U9x2; U10x2; U11; U15 Girls (Matches Sat am, Training Sun am plus other sessions on Tues and Thurs eves); U17/U18 (Train on Friday eves 1815 - 1930). Adult clubs also hire the main pitch for weekend afternoon matches (e.g Rustwood FC based in Rushmoor Borough).
The risk of the loss of the playing pitches on either of these sites may be mitigated by planning conditions to secure community access to sports pitches, possibly at alternative sites. More information is needed on the current position regarding this site in order that the Steering Group can consider the consequences of this potential loss. The Action Plan should also identify potential alternative sites to accommodate this loss.
Access to pitches on those sites managed directly by schools where there is no formal access agreement in place must also be considered a risk to current supply. These sites are:
. All Saints C Of E Junior School . Robert May's School . Calthorpe Park School . Velmead Junior School . Court Moor School . Westfields Junior School . Frogmore Junior School . Yateley Manor Preparatory . Lord Wandsworth College School
While there are no current plans for change of use of the MOD playing field site at RAF Odiham or Gibraltar Barracks, there is some risk in the long term as far as continued access for community sport is concerned.
Figure B7 below summarises the number of sites identified as secure and unsecured by Sub Area:
Figure B7: Secured and Unsecured Football Sites by Sub Area – (All education sites are classified as unsecured) Sub Area A Sub Area B Sub Area C Total % Secured 4 5 9 18 55% Unsecured 3 6 6 15 45% Closed 0 0 0 0 - Total 7 11 15 33 100%
Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs) In total, there are four sites having community access in the District with floodlit full size AGPs, of which three are 3G. (NB. This differs to the FPM 2015 run, which shows three sites.) The full sized AGPs in Hart with community access are detailed in Figure B8 below:
Figure B8: Floodlit Full Size AGPs in Hart Facility Name Surface Type Pitch Size* Date Built Refurbished Frogmore Leisure 3G - Floodlit 100x60m 1995 2014 Centre Gibraltar Barracks 3G - Floodlit 100x60m 2012 Lord Wandsworth Sand Filled - Floodlit 90x60m 1994 2004 College RAF Odiham 3G - Floodlit 100x60m 1994 2010
Under-sized 3G AGPs at Peter Driver Sports Ground and Robert May’s School have not been included in this analysis as they are too small for matches, but these facilities are generally available for community use. This is also the same for the under-sized sand-filled AGPs at Court Moor School, lord Wandsworth College and St Neots Preparatory School.
Sports Halls The following community leisure sites and education sites provide facilities (sports halls with changing facilities) with availability for hire for indoor 5 a side football:
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: Page | 8 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
. Blackwater & Hawley Leisure Centre . Court Moor School . Frogmore Leisure Centre . Hart Leisure Centre . Yateley Health & Fitness Gym
Quality of Pitches and Ancillary Facilities by Sub Area The quality of pitches by FA size and Sub Area is summarised in Figure B9:
Figure B9: Quality of Pitches by FA Size Mini 5v5 Mini 7v7 Youth 9v9 Youth 11v11 Senior No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Good 0 - 6 46% 9 60% 7 47% 25 74% Standard 5 100% 7 54% 6 40% 7 47% 8 24% Poor 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 7% 1 2% Total 5 100% 13 100% 15 100% 15 100% 34 100%
The best quality pitches are the full sized youth and full sized adult pitches. Smaller sized pitches are generally of a poorer quality which may be a reflection of their position, i.e. on the periphery of main pitches, and of the maintenance regime, i.e. these pitches may not be seen as a high priority for maintenance. The quality of pitches and ancillary changing facilities is summarised below in Figure B10 by Sub Area.
Figure B10: Quality of Pitches and Ancillary Facilities by Sub Area Sub Area A Sub Area B Sub Area C Total Pitches Ancillary Pitches Ancillary Pitches Ancillary Pitches Ancillary Good 79% 7% 35% 68% 58% 38% 61% 47% Standard 21% 79% 60% 30% 42% 42% 36% 44% Poor - 14% 5% 2% - 20% 3% 9%
The quality of pitches overall is good, with 61% being rated at the highest category and only 3% of all pitches being rated as poor.
Proposed Provision The following project proposals and their current status are identified below:
Figure B11: Proposals for New or Enhanced Provision Site Project Proposal Project Status Eversley Sports Association New - The acquisition of additional land adjacent Detailed proposals to the ESA grounds from CEMEX, approximately 20 Funding secured by ESA. All (Current provision - 12 acres of acres. Land lease proceeding. CEMEX outline Clubs involved in the proposal sports Fields including: planning permission submitted to HCC. which has the support of Hart clubhouse with catering DC. facilities and bar, changing Provision will cover a number of sports, including rooms with catering facility, Hockey (new Sand Filled AGP) and Cricket, and will This proposal should be two senior football pitches, include 5 a side football pitches (number to be supported by the Strategy as eight junior football pitches, confirmed). Additional grass football pitches addressing a number of the car park for 80 vehicles, (number to be confirmed) and additional parking. specific issues identified. drainage and irrigation These will be enumerated. infrastructure) Fleet Town FC Enhanced - 2015 is the club's 125th Anniversary Unfunded proposal Year (founded 1890) and plans an appeal to replace the existing boardroom building and refurbish the existing changing room facilities at the ground.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: P a g e | 9
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
(new) Hart Leisure Centre New – Full sized AGP and 2 grass pitches plus 4 x 5 Funding secured aside AGP's Hartley Wintney Junior New - One new grass pitch is due to be available Funding secured by HWJFC Football Club within next two years. The funding for the pitch is secured but the operating costs are not. Hartley Wintney Football Club Enhanced - Currently researching costs for Unfunded proposal drainage of main pitch at the Memorial PF Hartley Wintney. Land at North East Hook New – One Junior and one full sized football pitch Funding secured, development to take place as houses are occupied on new development – 2-4 years Yateley United FC Enhanced - The club want to develop Sean Unfunded proposal Devereux Park which the club now owns. Development to concentrate initially on improving the quality/drainage and layout of the pitches but subsequently plan for a new clubhouse and floodlights. The Zebon Copse Centre New – Small sided AGP for training Funding secured
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: Page | 10 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Figure B12 below shows the Wards and Sub-Areas in the District.
Figure B12: Distribution of Sub Areas in Hart District
The distribution of grass football pitches by Sub Area is illustrated in Figure B13 below:
Figure B13: Distribution of Grass Pitches Sub Area A Sub Area B Sub Area C Total No. % No. % No. % 5v5 Mini 1 7% 1 3% 3 10% 4 7v7 Mini 1 7% 6 16% 5 16% 11 9v9 Youth 2 14% 10 27% 4 13% 15 11v11 Youth 2 14% 7 19% 7 23% 15 Senior 8 58% 13 35% 12 39% 32 Total 14 37 31 82
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: P a g e | 11
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Sub Area A: West Area (Wards: Eversley, Hartley Wintney, Hook, Odiham and Long Sutton)
There are 14 public grass football pitches in Sub Area A, the smallest number of any of the Sub Areas with only 17% of the total supply of pitches. Sub Area A is also geographically the largest area and has a population broadly equivalent to Sub Area B, which has nearly three times as many pitches. There are 1,500 adult males for every adult grass football pitch in Sub Area A. This reflects the essentially town based nature of football provision in Hart and that only two of the nine school sites are in Sub Area A.
Sub Area B: North East area (Wards: Yateley North, Yateley West, Yateley East, Frogmoor & Darby Green and Blackwater & Hawley)
Sub Area B has 37 of the 82 public grass football pitches, 45% of the total supply. This Sub Area has four of the nine schools, together with the major hubs at Eversley Sports Association (ESA) and Sean Devereux Park. Although it has the majority of pitches, this Sub Area has just under half of the population of Sub Areas A and C. There are 272 adult males for every adult grass football pitch in Sub Area B.
Sub Area C: South East area (Wards: Fleet Pondtail, Fleet Central, Fleet West, Fleet Courtmoor, Church Crookham West and Church Crookham East)
This Sub Area has 31 grass football pitches and includes Calthorpe Park in Fleet and a number of local sites with two or more pitches (e.g. Cody Sports & Social Club on the district boundary with Rushmoor). There are 267 adult males for every adult grass football pitch in Sub Area B.
Conclusion Although there is a clear imbalance between provision in the Sub Areas, the overall position in Hart is that there is a sufficient supply of pitches to meet current local demand. High levels of mobility and short travel times within the District mean that there are accessible pitches available for anyone wishing to play football. This analysis concluded that the current overall supply is sufficient to meet current overall demand (see below).
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: P a g e | 12
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
3. Pitch Demand (Step 3) For all three sports included in the PPS scope, the following pitch demand information, see diagram below, has been gathered, as available, by a combination of data collection and review, surveys and consultations:
Figure B14: Pitch Demand Overview
Sources of information – The sources of information used to establish current pitch demand were: o Booking records of pitch providers where provided (e.g. some schools, clubs and sports associations); plus club and school survey returns (cricket, football and hockey) re: teams, patterns of use, unmet demand. o Sport England tools - Active People Survey data, Sports Market Segmentation (SMS) - trends and latent demand. o The HDC Planning Team - provided population forecasts and distribution by age groups relevant to particular sports. o NGBs - NGB Insight Data, league websites, participation policies and trends, local information on displaced demand.
Football Demand Findings relating to football pitch demand in Hart are summarised below.
Clubs, Teams and Players In 2014/15 Hart had a total of 239 teams which play in the District.
Of the 238 teams operating in Hart, 44 (18%) were adult male teams, 96 (40%) were male youth teams (all 9v9 and 11v11 formats) and 98 (42%) are Mini-Soccer teams (5v5 and 7v7– including 1 girls Mini-Soccer). There were 7 girls youth team and 4 ladies team. The number of teams increased by six teams overall in Hart from season 2013/14.
Using FA conversion rates Hart has 720 male and 54 female players of adult 11 a side football, 1,584 male youth players, 108 female youth players and 1,020 Mini-Soccer players totaling 3,486 players.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: P a g e | 13
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Overall, football participation in Hart is higher for Youth and mini soccer and slightly lower for adult football in comparison to national averages.
Active People Survey Active People Survey 8 (Oct 2013 - Oct 2014) shows that 4.4% of adults (16+) in England play football for at least 30 minutes once a week. Across Hampshire as a whole participation is significantly lower than the national average at 3.36%. The sample size in Hart is too small to provide a statistically significant participation figure.
Figure B15: Active People Survey 8 for Cricket, Football, Hockey and Rugby
Source: Sport England (May 2015)
The FA analysis of 'conversion rates’, i.e. the number of persons playing football as a proportion of the relevant population group indicates that football participation in Hart is less than the national averages.
Market Segmentation and Latent Demand As the tables below demonstrate, there is a lower demand from those Sports Market Segmentation Groups aged 18-25 (males and females)* playing and wanting to play football in Hart compared to the average for England. These groups are also characterised by relatively low latent demand for football.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: Page | 14 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Figure B16: Market Segmentation – currently participtating in Hockey
Source: Sport England Sports Market Segmentation (May 2015)
Clubs and facility providers can target these young adult groups by organising the right programs - for example 'Just Play' kickabout sessions, midnight football, pitch up and play - to engage new participants. This will be taken forward in the strategy as an action point.
Figure B17: Market Segmentation – would like to participtate in Hockey
Source: Sport England Sports Market Segmentation (May 2015)
Football clubs based in (or originating from) Hart and with teams playing in the Football League, the National League System (Steps 1-7) or in the Hampshire County Football League and the home grounds of their teams in 2014/15 is summarised in the following table.
Figure B18: Football League Clubs - Expressed Demand Club Name 2014/15 League Team Name Home Ground Other Grounds Used Black Horse F.C. Aldershot & District Men’s First XI Peter Driver Sports - Sunday Football Ground League Camberley Cougars Aldershot & District Reserves Kennals Lane - F.C. Sunday Football League Crookham Rovers East Berks Football 7 Mini-Soccer Cody Sports & Social The Abercorn Youth F.C. Alliance 13 Youth football Club Calthorpe Park Crondall Darby Green and Camberley & District Men’s First XI Darby Green Playing - Potley F.C. Sunday F.L. Fields
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: P a g e | 15
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Club Name 2014/15 League Team Name Home Ground Other Grounds Used Darby Green and East Berks Football 6 Mini-Soccer Darby Green Playing - Potley Youth F.C. Alliance 6 Youth Fields Eversley & California Combined Counties Men’s First XI Eversley Sports - F.C. Football League & 3 U18 Association Youth Cup 1 U21 Eversley & California Allied Counties 11 Mini-Soccer Eversley Cross - Youth F.C. Youth Football 15 Youth Football League 1 U18 ACYL FC Fleet Aldershot & District Men’s First XI Zebon Community - Sunday Football Centre League Fleet Albion F.C. Aldershot & District Men’s First XI Council ground not - Sunday Football allocated League Fleet Spurs Youth Wessex League 13 Mini-Soccer - - 13 Youth Football 1 U18 Fleet Town Colts North East Hants 9 Mini-Soccer Calthorpe Park - Youth F.C. Saturday Youth 12 Youth Football Football League Fleet Town FC Isthmian Football Men’s First XI Fleet Town FC - League Fleet Town Girls North East Hants U16 Oakley Park - Youth F.C. Sunday Youth Football League Fox & Hounds Aldershot & District Men’s first XI Eversley Sports - (Aldershot) F.C. Sunday Football Association League Frimley Select F.C. Aldershot & District Men’s first XI Hartley Wintney - Saturday Football League Frogmore F.C. Aldershot & District Men’s first XI Council ground not - Saturday Football allocated League Hartley Wintney F.C. Aldershot & District 5 Men’s Hartley Wintney FC - Saturday Football League Hartley Wintney East Berks Football 1 Mini-Soccer Greenfields Junior - Junior Youth F.C. Alliance School Hartley Wintney Southern Youth 10 Mini-Soccer Hartley Wintney FC - Youth F.C. League 9 youth football 1 U18 Wednesday Hart Youth F.C. North East Hants 13 Mini-Soccer Zebon Community - Saturday Youth 3 Youth Football Centre Football League Hawley Youth F.C. East Berks Football 9 Mini-Soccer Frogmore Leisure - Alliance 7 Youth Football Centre Hook F.C. Basingstoke & Men’s First XI Hartletts Park - District Saturday Football League Hook United Youth North East Hants U10 Lions Hartletts Park Bramshill College F.C. Saturday Youth U13 girls RAF Odiham Football League Rotherwick FC
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: Page | 16 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Club Name 2014/15 League Team Name Home Ground Other Grounds Used North Warn District Basingstoke & Men’s First XI North Warn District - F.C. District Saturday FC Football League Prince of Wales Farnham & District Men’s Veterans Council ground not - Veterans F.C. Sunday F.L. allocated RAF Odiham Basingstoke & Men’s First XI RAF Odiham - Families F.C. District Sunday Football League Rotherwick F.C. Aldershot & District Men’s First XI Rotherwick Playing - Sunday Football Field League Rushmoor Celtic F.C. Aldershot & District Men’s First XI Peter Driver Sports - Sunday Football Ground League Yateley United F.C. Aldershot & District 6 Senior men’s Devereux Park - Saturday Football League Yateley United East Berks Football 13 Mini-Soccer Council ground not - Youth F.C. Alliance U13 Youth Football allocated 1 U18 Plough and Horses Club records state - - - Rushmoor based Rustwood FC Club records state - Cody Sports & Social Rushmoor based Fleet Spurs Rushmoor border - - -
The above list is not exhaustive (See Hart Sport England Supply and Demand Spreadsheet for full details of all teams), but is included to illustrate the demand for adult football pitches in the District.
The following adult women's clubs and teams play in the District:
Figure B19: Women's Adult League Clubs - Expressed Demand Hart based adult 2014/15 leagues Team Name Home ground Other grounds Used women's football clubs and teams Crookham Rovers - U14 Girls Cody Sports & Social - Youth F.C. Club - OOD
Fleet Town Girls Surrey County U18 Oakley Park - Youth F.C. Girls U16 U15 U13 U12 U11 U10 U9 Fleet Town Ladies Hampshire County Ladies - F.C. Women's & Girls U18 Fleet Town FC Football League U18 red Hook United Youth - U13 Girls Hartletts Park - F.C.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: Page | 17 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
In order to ensure that these teams continue, succession planning for girls team (i.e. backfilling of teams) should be consider within the Action Plan.
Clubs planning to increase number of teams The table below summarises the self-reported plans of clubs for growing the number of teams they run, provided volunteer team managers/coaches are identified and suitable venues can be secured to play.
Figure B20: Clubs and Leagues Self-reported Team Growth Plans Club Proposed New Teams Venue Identified? Fleet Spurs Five Youth girls Kennels Lane, Southwood Five Mini-Soccer
Eversley and California FC One Adult men’s teams Using Existing facilities. One Adult women’s teams Five Youth boys teams Five Youth girls teams Five Mini-Soccer teams Plough & Horses FC One Adult men’s teams Same venue
Rustwood F.C One Adult men’s teams Cody Sports and Social
Hart Youth Fc Youth boys teams Mixed - 10 teams No venue identified - adequate facilities Youth girls teams Mixed - 10 Teams are scarce and those in existence are Mini-Soccer teams - 10 teams as smaller being maintained to a sustainable level so format i.e. 5v5 there are diminishing returns year on year with regards quality and even number fit for purpose Darby Green & Potley FC Two Youth boys teams Within current facilities but there will be No Youth girls teams a need to acquire further pitch access Two / Three / Four Mini-Soccer teams Yateley United Adult men’s teams - Possibly adding an Most home games are currently played at over 50s walking team Sean Devereux Park (GU46 7SZ) with Adult women’s teams - At least one new some on the Green at Yateley. However team (hopeful they will due to club expansion additional start in 2015/16) locations will be needed to accommodate Youth boys teams - At least one new team teams and this is a limiting factor. at U16 next season Mini-Soccer teams - New intake at U7 and U8 Fleet Town Girls and Ladies One Adult women’s teams - Ladies Mini-Soccer - Calthorpe Park FC Reserves 9 aside - Basingbourne Park and Oakley Two / Three Youth girls teams Park, Velmead School when conditions Two / Three Mini-Soccer teams allow 11 aside up to U18 - Oakley Park 11 aside Ladies and U18 - Fleet Town FC Crookham Rovers Football One Youth boys teams Cody Sports & Social Club One Youth girls teams One Mini-Soccer teams Hawley FC One Adult men’s teams Hawley Leisure Centre Two Youth boys teams Three Mini-Soccer teams
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: P a g e | 18
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Casual Demand Casual play among groups of friends, neighbours, work colleagues etc. using free to use open access grass and non-turf facilities in public parks and on housing estates continues to be a major feature of football demand, particularly amongst teenagers and young adults.
Whilst there is sufficient space on public sites in Hart, sets of small-sided game goals could be introduced across the adult pitches both for casual play and to accommodate growing demand for organised youth football and Mini-Soccer. This will be reflected in the Action Plan.
Unmet and Displaced Demand There is some exported displaced demand, i.e. teams from clubs based or with their origins in Hart using grounds and pitches in neighbouring boroughs for home fixtures. There are 30 such teams in Hart, notable examples are: Camberley Cougars F.C., Crookham Rovers Youth F.C and Fleet Spurs Youth. Approximately 18% of all Hart-based club home games are played outside the District.
To meet the current unmet demand for formal match play and training for Mini-Soccer and youth teams, there is a need to secure more FA compliant floodlit 3G pitches (with secured access agreements) on managed, multi-sport sites with good quality changing and social facilities. This will have the benefit of reducing reliance on open access park pitches where it is difficult to maintain quality and sustain ancillary facilities. 4. The situation at individual sites (Step 4) Football Sites The grass football pitches were quality assessed using the standard non-technical assessment form agreed by The FA and Sport England in November of the 2014 season. These assessments were reviewed in discussion with representatives of The FA and ratings for each agreed as a basis for comparison of the amount of play each site could accommodate (its carrying capacity) against the amount of play that takes place.
Carrying capacity is a measure of the number of match equivalent sessions per season for community use each pitch can take without adversely affecting its quality and use.
It was agreed with The FA representative to adopt the following pitch carrying capacities according to each quality rating to be consistent with the approach adopted in similar assessments across the country. Figure B21 shows this.
Figure B21: Grass Football Pitch Carrying Capacity Agreed Pitch Quality Adult Football Youth Football Mini Soccer Rating (9v9, 11v11) (5v5, 7v7) Number of match equivalent sessions a week Good 3 4 6 Standard 2 2 4 Poor 1 1 2
Figure B22 below summarised the situation at each football site with regard to:
1. Pitch supply (including the quality ratings) and conclusions reached as to the amount of play a site can accommodate (i.e. its carrying capacity for community use). 2. The amount of play that takes place at each site (i.e. the expressed demand where known) adjusted to reflect any casual or education use in addition to club use for matches and training. 3. The comparison (shown as a RAG rating) as to whether, for each pitch type it contains, a site is:
. RED - Being overplayed (current use exceeds the carrying capacity) . AMBER - Being played to the level the site can sustain (current use matches the carrying capacity), or
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: Page | 19 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
. GREEN - Potentially able to accommodate some additional play (current use falls below the carrying capacity).
Figure B22: Situation at Individual sites – Grass Pitches Site Pitch Pitch Numbers Cap Use RAG Home teams where appropriate Rating Ancells Farm Standard 1 Youth 9x9 2 2 Standard 1 Adult 11x11 2 2 Basingbourne Standard 1 Youth 11x11 2 2 Park Blackwater & Standard 1 Youth 9x9 2 2 Hawley Leisure Standard 1 Adult 11x11 2 2 Centre Standard 1 Mini 7x7 4 4 Bramshill Police Standard 1 Adult 2 2 Hook United Youth FC College Standard 1 Youth 11v11 2 2 Calthrope Park Standard 2 Mini 5x5 8 3 Fleet Town Colts Youth F.C 12 Junior, 10 Standard 3 Mini 7x7 12 8 Mini-Soccer
Cody Sports & Standard 1 Adult (f'lit) 2 2 Crookham Rovers Youth FC Social Club Standard 2 Youth (over- 4 4 marked for mini soccer) 2 Mini 8 8 Darby Green Standard 1 Mini 5x5 4 3 Darby Green and Potley F.C. 1 Adult Playing Fields Good 1 Adult 11x11 3 4 Darby Green and Potley Youth F.C.7 Junior, 6 Mini-Soccer Elvetham Heath Standard 1 Youth 11x11 2 2 td Eversley Sports Good 2 Adult 11x11 6 3 Eversley & California F.C. 2 Adult 3 Junior Association Good 3 Youth 9x9 12 10 Eversley & California Youth F.C. 11 Mini- Good 2 Youth 11x11 8 6 Soccer, 16 Junior Good 2 Youth 7x7 8 6 Fox & Hounds (Aldershot) F.C. 1 Adult Farnham Road Good 1 Adult 11x11 3 2 Recreation Ground Frogmore Poor 1 Adult 11x11 1 2 Frogmore F.C. 1 Adult Leisure Centre 1 Youth 11x11 Hawley Youth F.C. 1 Junior Hartletts Park Good 2 Youth 9x9 8 1 Hook F.C. 1 Adult Hook Standard 1 Mini 5x5 4 1 Hook United Youth F.C 1 Junior Standard 1 Mini 7x7 4 Long Sutton Good 1 Adult 11x11 3 1 Long Sutton FC 1 adult Recreation Ground Lord Good 3 Adult 11x11 12 8 Wandsworth College Hartley Wintney Good 2 Adult 11x11 6 3 Frimley Select F.C 1 Adult Memorial Hartley Wintney F.C 1 Adult Ground Hartley Wintney Youth F.C. 1 Junior North Good 1 Adult 11x11 3 1 North WarnDistrict F.C 1 Adult Wanborough Old Boys FC Oakeley Park Good 2 Adult 11x11 6 7 Fleet Town Girls Youth F.C. 1 Junior
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: Page | 20 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Site Pitch Pitch Numbers Cap Use RAG Home teams where appropriate Rating Peter Driver Good 2 Adult 11x11 6 6 Black Horse F.C.1 adult team Sports Ground Rushmoor Celtic F.C. 1 adult Rotherwick Good 1 Adult 11x11 3 2 Rotherwick F.C 1 adult Playing Fields The Sean Good 3 Adult 11x11 9 15 Yateley United F.C. 6 Adult Devereux Park Good 4 Mini-Soccer 24 12 Yateley United Youth F.C. 12 Youth 15, Mini- (Home Of Good 7x7 4 Soccer Yateley United) Good 1 Youth 9x9 The Zebon Copse Good 1 Youth 9x9 4 6 FC Fleet 1 Adult Centre Good 1 Adult 11x11 3 1 Hart Youth F.C 13 Mini-Soccer, 3 Junior Good 1 Mini 7x7 6 7 Yateley Green Good 1 Adult 11x11 3 4 Good 1 Youth 9x9 4 3 1 Mini Yateley Health & Standard 2 Adult 11x11 4 5 Fitness Standard 1 Youth 9x9 2 4
It is clear from the above that the quality of pitches impacts directly on the capacity of the existing supply to accommodate current need. As the quality is generally good, the existing pitches can meet current demand with no sites being overplayed. Any reduction in the resources put into maintenance would have a similar effect to losing pitch provision. It is therefore essential that resources continue to be put into pitch maintenance and the Action Plan needs to consider how Parish Councils, who have adopted many of football pitch sites, can be supported in maintaining standards.
Linked to the quality of pitches is the issue of drainage. Sean Devereux Park had good quality pitches, but poor drainage can lead to extensive periods of loss of use. Investment in improving drainage here would have a similar effect to providing additional pitches.
Football Artificial Grass Pitch (3G) Carrying Capacity The FA National Facility Strategy identified a lack of high quality 3G AGP to service the game. 3G AGPs are essential in the promotion of coaching and player development. These facilities can support intensive use and as such are great assets for playing and training.
The FA’s long-term ambition is to provide every affiliated team in England the opportunity to train once per week on a floodlit 3G AGP, together with priority access for every Charter Standard Community Club through a partnership agreement.
The FA Chairman's England Commission Report (Oct 2014) highlighted that grassroots facilities in English football are inferior to those found in other European Countries. This is especially true in terms of the number of artificial grass pitches highlighted as crucial in technical development. The Commission's objectives are to: . Reduce football’s reliance on local authority subsidies . Build significantly more AGPs . Build sustainable model to make this change happen.
The report recommends a number of football hubs centered on new, high quality AGPs that, in the first instance, are to be built in England’s major cities. Specifically the report highlights the following projected outcomes in relation to 3G AGPs:
By 2020 there will be: - A 50% increase in the total number of full size, publicly accessible 3G AGPs in England overall, to over 1000. - Over 50% of all mini soccer and youth football matches (about 3,750 per week) being played on the best quality AGPs.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: Page | 21 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
FA Model Approach - AGP Needs Assessment The FA standard is calculated by using the latest Sport England research ‘AGP’s State of the Nation March 2012’ assuming that 51% of AGP usage is by sports clubs when factoring in the number of training slots available per pitch type per hour from 5pm to 10pm Mon – Fri and 9am – 5pm Saturday and Sundays. It is estimated that one full size 3G AGP can service 56 teams.
On the basis there are 239 teams playing competitive football in Hart there is a need for at least 4.25 full size 3G FTPs in the District. As shown in Figure B8 previously, currently there are four full sized accessible AGPs in Hart, of which three are 3G pitch and based at MOD sites.
3G AGP's and Match Play The use of 3G AGPs will become increasingly important for match play to help sustain and develop the game further. The only Artificial Grass Pitches that have valid performance tests and listed on The FA Register of approved pitches in Hart are at Robert May’s School (9x9, 7x7 and 5x5) and Frogmore Leisure Centre. Only pitches formally placed on this register are suitable for competitive football. For details of the register see www.3g.thefa.me.uk/.
Sport England Facilities Planning Model (FPM) - Football AGP Needs Assessment In April 2015 Sport England published an analysis of Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) provision in the District using data on supply and demand for AGPs from Sport England’s National Facilities Audit Dataset as of January 2015.
The FPM analysis uses a different set of assumptions and facility inclusion criteria than The FA approach. The FPM includes consideration of all surface types that can be used for football training and casual football and not just 3G pitches. However, it is missing the 3G AGP at Gibraltar Barracks that has not been identified on the Active Places database, but has been verified through a site visit.
Figure B23: Supply / Demand – Community accessible AGPs in Hart Supply / Demand Hart England South Basingstoke East Hants Rushmoor East & Deane Number of pitch sites 3 1,974 362 3 7 5 Number of pitches 3 1,783 316 3 7 4 Supply – pitches per 10,000 of 0.32 0.36 0.41 0.17 0.59 0.52 the population Supply – publicly available pitch space in pitches (scaled with 1.73 1,578.59 272.60 2.97 5.24 4.54 hours available in peak period) Supply – total pitch space in visits per week in the peak 1,280 1,127,174 201,721 2,195 3,880 3,363 period (vpwpp) Demand – vpwpp demanded 1,978 1,258,717 198,325 3,890 2,343 2,354 Demand – equivalent in pitches 2.67 1,700.97 268.01 5.26 3.17 3.18 (with comfort factor included) Supply / Demand balance -0.94 - 122.38 4.59 -2.29 2.07 1.36 (pitches)
The analysis suggested that the current supply of AGPs suitable is below the level required to meet the demand that is generated by the population of Hart. The simple Supply / Demand Balance identifies a small ‘shortfall’ of 0.94 AGPs. This is a very simplistic picture of the overall supply and demand across Hart. The resident population is estimated to generate a demand for 2.67 pitches. This compares to a current available supply of 1.73 pitches giving a negative supply / demand balance of 0.94 pitches.
The % of Hart’s population without access to a car is 7.5% which is lower than the national and regional averages. This suggests that the demand created is relatively mobile.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: Page | 22 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
The model is forecasting that circa 68% of the satisfied demand within Hart’s population is being met by facilities outside of the District itself.
The scale of the unmet demand in Hart has been highlighted – it is 319 visits per week in the peak period, which is converted to an equivalent of 0.43 pitches.
The data analysis shows that the main cause of this unmet demand (circa 86%) is a lack of capacity at current facilities. The model identifies that circa 14% is caused by people living outside of the catchment of an existing AGP facility.
The model also forecasts that the AGPs in Hart are being used at 97.2% capacity during the peak periods each week. This is slightly higher than the national figure (90.4%) and the regional figure (96.3%) and suggests that the current pitches are extremely busy during peak times each week.
The analysis has forecast the following used capacity figures for the respective AGPs within Hart: . Frogmore Leisure Centre – 100% . Lord Wandsworth College – 93% . RAF Odiham – 100%
This illustrates that there are extremely limited (if any at all) opportunities to increase community usage of the current AGPs across the district and underlines how important each site currently is for current sporting activity.
Interestingly, the model forecasts that circa 57% of the current used capacity is actually being imported into Hart from other authority areas. This figure is significantly higher than that within the neighbouring local authorities apart from Rushmoor. The model suggests that only circa 43% of the used capacity is from Hart residents. This data reflects the FPM analysis for satisfied demand that suggests circa 68% of the demand being generated within Hart is being met by facilities outside of the District.
The data suggests that consideration could be given to the provision of more AGPs within the District to meet the demands of a growing population and to support any aspirations to increase the opportunities available to the residents of Hart at facilities within the District itself.
5. The current and future pictures of provision (Step 5) Football provision
Current Overall, in terms of quantity, there is sufficient accessible and secured community use provision to meet current demand for football in the District as a whole. Whilst current supply broadly meets current demand for traditional forms of adult league football, there are a number of displaced Hart based clubs that play their home matches in neighbouring boroughs. Fleet Spurs Youth is the most significant of these displaced clubs, having the largest number of teams playing outside the District.
In line with the national picture, the number of men's senior league teams has declined slightly in the last three seasons. However, there are significant pressures on demand for access to good quality adult pitches at peak times, and there is some evidence from the club survey returns that lack of spare capacity of quality pitches is restricting clubs from growing the number of teams.
Demand for access to youth and Mini-Soccer pitches is already high and continues to grow as evidenced by the survey returns of clubs. The clubs indicated plans for up to a further 21 youth boys, 16 youth girls and 23 Mini-Soccer teams necessitating more access to suitable pitches, whether grass or 3G, particularly on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Where feasible, this additional capacity is needed on clubs' home sites to support their
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: Page | 23 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
financial sustainability. The proposed new junior facilities at ESA are needed to meet this increasing demand for the future.
The assessment of need currently also supports the case for provision of one more 3G AGP in Hart District of suitable specification for league match play. This is based in part on the FPM 2015 run. Where possible, investment in new or enhanced 3G AGPs should be directed to multi pitch sites with on site management so that sporting value is maximised and revenues from the 3G can be readily recycled into maintenance regimes and equipment to sustain the quality of the grass football pitches.
In terms of the distribution of pitch supply, there is a clear imbalance in the District with the majority of supply falling in the Sub Area B. Opportunities for new provision or securing improved access to existing provision should be pursued in Sub Area A as an action point.
The quality of supply is good, with 9% of the available pitches rated as poor. Most of these are in parks or on school sites where, in most cases, the quality of ancillary changing facilities is also poor.
Security of community access is also a concern at some sites and at several independent and academy school sites with pitches.
Future Potential effect of population change - Future population growth figures have been calculated for the period of this strategy against the primary age groups for football participation.
The largest forecast population growth is in Sub Area A where there is the least formal grass pitch supply.
Opportunities to secure more community access to school pitches for youth and Mini-Soccer, particularly in the under-supplied Sub Areas, should also be considered within the Action Plan.
The strategic approach in Sub Area A, where population growth is forecast to be most marked, should be to focus on protecting those pitches currently in use and enhancing provision strategically. The Action Plan should identify specific sites where possible.
In addition to the population growth forecasts above account must be taken of proposed new housing developments. Whilst details of all of these is not yet known, it is estimated that the proposed new development at North East Hook Housing scheme will create an additional local demand for one adult and one junior grass football pitch. A more detailed assessment of the impact of future housing schemes will be addressed in the scenario section of the Stage D report.
Figure B24: Population projections and football team generation rates Age Group No. Football Pop in Age Future Pop Current Team Pop Change Potential Teams 2015 Group 2015 in Age Generation in Age Change in Group Rate Group Football Team No's Adult male 44 17,407 18,550 395 1143 +3 Adult female 4 17,010 17,907 4252 897 0 Youth boys 96 3663 4291 38 628 +16.5 Youth girls 7 3336 4014 476 678 +1.5 Mini-Soccer 98 4961 5249 50 288 +5.75
Assuming current football participation and team generation rates in Figure B24 and the forecast population growth takes place, there will be approximately 18 more youth teams and between five and six more Mini-Soccer teams and three more adult teams in the District requiring access to match pitches and practice facilities. These projections, however, are much more modest than the proposals by clubs to form new teams (21 adult males, one
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: Page | 24 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
adult women’s, 21 youth boys and 16 youth girls, together with plans for 23 more mixed Mini-Soccer teams.
Potential effect of demand trends, participation targets, how pitch sports are played – Among adults, national trends show a reduction in interest in taking part in sports that demand a commitment to regular attendance, in favour of a more casual involvement.
There is upward demand for informal forms of football, particularly among the young. The forecast growth of the numbers of younger people in Hart over the next ten years this evidences a need for more active promotion of underused parks pitches, MUGAs and other informal facilities for football.
Local football clubs report in the survey returns that Mini-Soccer and younger youth age groups continue to show a growth trend, but that this growth is not sustained through the older youth age groups from age 15yrs when exams and other interests tend to impact.
The sites and clubs in the table below are identified as key sites where demand is likely to increase. These sites are identified as 'key football sites' in Hart District as community access is secured and each site meets at least one of the following criteria:
Only pitch supply available for community football in the area. A multi pitch site. Accommodates a high level of community football activity. The club based at the site or using the site regularly have identified growth plans. The site has potential to accommodate significantly more match equivalent sessions with appropriate enhancement.
This increase in demand will place pressure on pitch maintenance regimes to maintain quality and support the case for enhanced pitch quality and/or new floodlit 3G AGPs to increase capacity at some of these sites.
Figure B25: Sites / Clubs with Increasing Demand - Key Sites Site/Club Sub Use Issues - Key Factors Possible Solutions Area Eversley Sports B Adult League Games and Only supply in this Sub Extension planned in Association training hired close to Area. adjacent area for more capacity, evenings and Potential to extend onto grass pitches and floodlit weekends in term adjacent site. Hockey AGP.
Displaced demand from other areas in Hart and outside of District. The Sean Devereux B Pitches are used mainly Although rated as good Enhanced pitch Park on Saturdays for junior there are serious maintenance regime / and mini matches. drainage issues on these close season repairs. pitches. (Drainage is Replace goalposts with Most of Yateley United only one aspect of pitch moveable posts to home games are quality rating.) reduce wear. currently played at Sean Devereux Park. However due to club expansion they will need to seek additional locations to accommodate teams and this is a definitely a limiting factor.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: P a g e | 25
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Site/Club Sub Use Issues - Key Factors Possible Solutions Area One floodlit adult fenced pitch for league matches.
The Zebon Copse C Funding for facilities Issues with changing and Increase capacity with Centre capable of delivering all car parking small floodlit 3G year round sport / adjacent to entrance football with adequate (planning consent parking and secured). encouragement to sustain this Calthorpe Park C Grass pitches played Poor Drainage, high Improve drainage, within capacity - home level of public use (dog upgrade changing. club fixtures and fouling) Changing in training need of upgrading. Limited car parking Hook United A New pitches will be One youth and one adult Funded through new required when housing pitch planned development developer development North East contributions of Hook is completed 6. Key findings and issues (Step 6)
Figure B26: Football Key Findings and Issues Football The main The District is home to several large and successful amateur and community football characteristics of clubs with good quality pitch and ancillary facilities and a very active volunteer the current supply infrastructure of team managers, coaches, and club and game officials. of and demand for provision This facility and coaching infrastructure ensures that, overall, there is a good level of opportunities for residents of Hart to learn and play football at all ages, both males and females. Football participation is low in the District compared to national averages.
However, there is a significant imbalance with many opportunities to play football available and accessible in the Western parts of the District and far fewer opportunities to play in the most densely populated areas in the east.
Further investment in new football facilities is proposed at ESA for 2015/16.
Is there enough YES. Given that a mobile population is able to access pitches across the Sub Areas, accessible and current supply broadly meets current demand for traditional forms of senior league secured community football. There are a number of displaced Hart based clubs that play their home use provision to matches in neighbouring Districts. meet current demand? For youth football and Mini-Soccer there is a lot of pressure on existing pitches at some sites leading to over-marking small sided pitches on larger pitches and overplay.
The introduction of 5v5 size pitches in recent seasons for the U7 and U8 age groups has increased the wear of key sites for Mini-Soccer and youth football.
Whilst the overall position means that there is a balance between supply and demand, it should be noted that there is a substantial under-supply of pitches in the West of the District.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: Page | 26 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Is the provision YES. There are no serious issues of quality and maintenance at football sites or at that is accessible schools and sports clubs. A trend has been identified towards a lack of sufficient of sufficient quality resources for adequate pitch maintenance by Parish and Councils and this is also an and appropriately issue for maintenance of changing facilities at a number of the football sites in the maintained? District.
Where management of park / recreation ground football facilities is devolved to clubs (under lease or license) these are maintained to a much higher quality, e.g. Eversley Sports Association. It is apparent that the quality of pitches and changing rooms are factors that impact on pitch demand in sites where the quality is better, particularly for changing).
What are the main The spatial planning strategy and policies for Hart assume a low level of growth over characteristics of the plan period to 2020. Growth is forecast for two of the three Sub Areas to 2020 the future supply with concentrations in wards in Sub Area A. and demand for provision? Assuming current team generation rates in each sport, the forecast population growth will potentially generate demand for the following additional teams:
Age Group No. Pop in Future Current Pop Potential Football Age Pop in Team Change in Change in Teams Group Age Generation Age Football 2015 2015 Group Rate Group Team No's Adult male 44 17,407 18,550 395 1143 +3 Adult female 4 17,010 17,907 4252 897 0 Youth boys 96 3663 4291 38 628 +16.5 Youth girls 7 3336 4014 476 678 +1.5 Mini-Soccer 98 4961 5249 50 288 +5.75
At the much higher level of growth anticipated by the clubs, particularly in the number of youth and Mini-Soccer teams it is evident that the District needs to protect existing playing field provision. There will be a need to increase playing capacity on existing pitch sites through a combination of quality enhancement and new provision (particularly of 3G AGP able to accommodate multiple games in the peak period) over the period of the strategy.
The structural changes of organised forms of the game at youth and Mini-Soccer level continue to impact on demand for pitches and the need to over-mark 5v5 and 7v7 pitches on 9v9 and 11v11 pitches. These changes when combined with demand growth could result in increasing over-play of some sites. Football future supply includes the development of 4 x 5 aside AGP's at the new Hart Leisure Centre
The largest forecast population growth is in Sub Area A where there is a lack of formal grass pitch supply. It will therefore be important to actively seek opportunities for new provision in this sub area, particularly aimed at meeting the demands for Junior and Mini-Soccer games. Specific proposals will need to be included within the Action Plan to accommodate this.
Similarly, specific opportunities to secure more community access to school pitches for youth and Mini-Soccer, particularly in the under supplied Sub Area A, must be considered within the Action Plan.
In Sub Area A population growth is forecast to be more marked than in the East of the District although this is likely to still be significant as a result of the spatial strategy policy of intensification of housing. The strategic approach to future football grass pitch provision also needs to be on protecting playing field land and enhancing provision at key, sustainable sites. District-wide needs are such that playing field land in this relatively poorly provided Sub Area needs to be protected to meet future demand from new population both from within the Sub Area.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: P a g e | 27
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Football Final Report Appendix B July Amendment
Is there enough NO. To meet future demand, there will be a need to increase the supply of facilities accessible and for youth football and Mini-Soccer in accessible locations within the District, and on secured community school sites with community access in the west of the District where there is lower use provision to level of current supply. All existing pitches are needed to satisfy demand. Therefore meet future none have been identified as surplus. demand?
What is the overall The overall quality level of football grass pitch provision in Hart is good and there are quality level? notable examples of very high quality pitches and ancillary facilities, e.g. at ESA. There are very few examples of facilities at sports clubs and in parks that are of poor quality and in need of significant enhancement. The main issue in relation to quality of football grass pitches is that of drainage, particularly on The Sean Devereux Park. These pitches are currently rated as good from the site audits undertaken in 2014. However, following periods of wet weather their condition is likely to deteriorate and they could then become unplayable. Drainage is only one of many factors in determining pitch quality ratings.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix B: P a g e | 28
Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Appendix C – Assessment of Need – Hockey
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 96 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Hockey Final Report 2015
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Appendix C Hockey - Assessment of Needs (Stages B & C) 1. Pitch Supply (Step 2)
For all four sports included in the PPS scope – cricket, football, hockey and rugby - the following pitch supply information, see diagram below, has been gathered, as far as possible, by a combination of data collection and review, surveys and consultations:
Figure C1: Pitch Supply Overview
Sources of information – The sources of information used to establish current pitch supply were: latest Sport England Active Places Power audit for playing pitches in Hart; relevant NGB, county board and club websites; NGB insight data (where available); NGB regional PPS leads; online survey returns from sports clubs, schools and NGBs.
Site visits and inspections – None of the sites which Hart based hockey teams use are currently based in Hart.
Findings - The pitch supply information for Hart as set out in Figure C1 above has been collated and entered in Spreadsheets (one for each pitch sport) detailing: . Current Supply . Current Demand . Site Overviews (current supply and demand balance) . Future Supply and Demand (taking into account forthcoming changes in the supply of pitches and projected population change. Hockey Supply Findings relating to hockey pitch supply, i.e. sand or water based artificial grass pitches (AGPs) - in Hart are summarised below.
Number and sizes of pitches In the current season (2014/15), the only sand-based AGP pitch located in Hart is at Lord Wandsworth College.
The two main hockey clubs in the area: Yateley Hockey Club and Fleet & Ewshot Hockey Club, currently play all their matches outside the District.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix C: Page | 1 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Hockey Final Report 2015
Yateley H.C. play at three sites: Farnborough 6th Form College, Edgbarrow Sports Centre – Crowthorne and Wellington College. The club are developing a new floodlit full size sand filled AGP at Eversley Sports Association (ESA) and hope to move there next season, although they will continue to use the pitch at Edgbarrow Sports Centre (Edgbarrow Sports Centre had their pitch re-laid over the 2014 summer). The club is already partly based in Hart, using the Yateley Cricket & Hockey Association social facilities at Sean Devereux Park, Chandlers Lane, Yateley.
Fleet & Ewshot H.C currently play their matches at the Army Hockey Centre, Aldershot and at Farnborough Sixth Form College (one weekly Junior’s session). The club plan, subject to agreement with the school, to play future matches at Calthorpe Park School, Fleet when this new floodlit full size 3G AGP becomes available in September 2015. They will also continue to use the double sand filled AGPs at the Army Hockey Centre at Aldershot and the club has access to clubhouse at the Army Hockey Centre for use as changing facilities and catering for training and matches. The club’s use of the Army Hockey Centre is through a rental agreement with Aspire Defence, at an annual cost of £12,000. The availability of new AGP at Calthorpe Park School would be a useful additional satellite site for the Club.
Warlock Vets Hockey Club (Hook) which have one men’s team and again use Lord Wandsworth College on a fairly regular basis on Sundays for friendlies.
Alton Hockey Club (plays some matches in Hart, but is based in East Hampshire District Council) which has three men’s sides, two ladies’ sides, one mixed and nine junior sides and currently use Lord Wandsworth College and Amery Hill School. They are used for weekday training and occasional weekend use when available. (The ladies teams train on Mondays 7pm - 8:30 pm at Lord Wandsworth College and the men’s teams train on Tuesdays 8:15pm - 9:45 pm at Lord Wandsworth College.
Hockey Pitches in Schools
Figure C2: School Based Hockey Pitches Site Surface & Age & Quality Ancillary Facilities Security of Access Size Court Moor Small size 2007 Good Changing - Standard Available for Community hire School Fleet sand filled & Schools use
Lord Full Size 1994 Standard Changing - Standard Available for Community hire and used Wandsworth sand filled & Schools use for Single System Coaching College Lord Small Size 1994 Standard N/A - Schools use Available for Community hire Wandsworth Sand filled only College 31m x 56m St Neots Small Size 2002 Good N/A - Schools use N/A Preparatory Sand filled only School 65m x 43m
In addition, there is a full size grass hockey pitch at St Nicholas School that is only used by the school and a disused grass pitch at Yateley Health & Fitness noted on the Sport England Active Places Power website, but not included in this Supply / Demand analysis.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix C: P a g e | 2
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Hockey Final Report 2015
Hockey Pitches in Neighbouring Boroughs
Figure C3: Out of District Hockey Pitches Site Surface & Size Age & Ancillary Facilities Security of Access Quality Army Hockey Centre – Sand filled 2000 Changing (poor) Secure through annual Aldershot 100m x 60m Standard rental agreement @ (out of District – Rushmoor) £12,000 pa. Army Hockey Centre – Sand filled 2000 Changing (poor) Pay & play Aldershot 100m x 60m Standard (out of District – Rushmoor) Down Grange - Basingstoke Full size sand filled 2012 Pavilion & changing Secure Hockey Club Good built in 2012 (good) (out of District – Basingstoke & Deane) Dove House School (out of Small size sand 2005 N/A Schools use only N/A District – Basingstoke & filled Floodlit 30x20 Good Deane) Edgbarrow Sports Centre Sand filled Changing (good) Pay & Play (out of District – Bracknell 100m x 60m Forest) Farnborough 6th Form College Sand filled 2010 Changing (Standard) Limited to outside (out of District – Rushmoor) 100m x 60m Good school hours Queen Mary’s College sports Small size sand 2002 Available for Limited to outside Centre filled Floodlit 65x35 Good community use school hours (out of District – Basingstoke Changing (Good) & Deane) Wellington College Sand filled Changing (standard) Limited to outside (out of District – West 100m x 60m school hours Berkshire)
Proposed Provision A new short pile 3G AGP is currently being developed at Calthorpe Park School. Fleet & Ewshot HC proposes to enter into a hire agreement with the school to facilitate expansion of the number of teams to meet unmet and latent demand. This may, in time, facilitate the club consolidating more of its match play and training activities at this site which would assist the long term sustainability and growth of the club. However, this will be dependent on the pitch being approved for play by England Hockey and on the club reaching agreement with the school on long terms hire arrangements. If such an agreement is reached, then this pitch will be treated as a satellite site for the club, who will retain their use of the out of District facilities at the Army Hockey Centre in Aldershot for their main matches. England Hockey are not supporting the provision of this new pitch at Calthorpe Park School.
Yateley Hockey Club are working in partnership with Eversley Sports Association (ESA) on the construction of a new floodlit full size sand filled AGP at ESA. Funding and all necessary permissions have been secured and when completed this will become the new base for the club. Although only one new AGP is currently planned, this proposal should be “future proofed” by ensuring that the design and layout allows for an additional pitch in the future if required. Discussions indicate that, at this stage the Club intend to retain the clubhouse facilities at Sean Devereux Park, shared with the Yateley Cricket Club, although with a new AGP at Eversley Sports Association, this may change.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix C: Page | 3 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Hockey Final Report 2015
Figure C4 below shows the Wards and Sub-Areas in the District:
Figure C4: Distribution of Sub Areas in Hart District
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix C: P a g e | 4
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Hockey Final Report 2015
3. Pitch Demand (Step 3)
For all four sports included in the PPS scope, the following pitch demand information, see diagram below, has been gathered, as available, by a combination of data collection and review, surveys and consultations:
Figure C5: Pitch Demand Overview
Sources of information – The sources of information used to establish current pitch demand were: o Booking records of pitch providers where provided (e.g. some schools, clubs and sports associations); plus club survey returns (cricket, football and hockey) re: teams, patterns of use, unmet demand. o Sport England tools - Active People Survey data, Sports Market Segmentation (SMS) - trends and latent demand. o The HBC Planning Team provided - population forecasts and distribution by age groups relevant to particular sports. o NGBs - NGB Insight Data, league websites, participation policies and trends, local information on displaced demand. Hockey Demand Findings relating to hockey pitch demand in Hart are summarised below.
Clubs and Teams Hart has four hockey clubs based in the District, the main two are Fleet & Ewshot Hockey Club and Yateley Hockey Club. Both clubs currently play all their matches outside the District, but both have short term plans to be based in Hart for the next season through the development of new pitches (see below). Two other clubs, Alton HC (three men’s sides, two ladies’ sides, one mixed and nine junior sides) and Warlock vets (one men’s side) play some of their matches in Hart at Lord Wandsworth College. NB. The Alton ladies and men’s teams use Lord Wandsworth for training.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix C: Page | 5 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Hockey Final Report 2015
Yateley Hockey Club - Although the club's main base is at Sean Devereux Park, there is no sand filled AGP on this site. The club's 10 Adult and nine Junior (U6 to U18) teams play and train at Farnborough 6th Form College, Edgbarrow Sports and Wellington College, all outside the District. The club has approximately 319 players for the 2014/15 season.
Fleet & Ewshot Hockey Club - The club has four men's and three women's teams, one mixed and seven junior sides. Matches and training take place at the Army Hockey Centre where the club have access to a double pitch, together with central changing. They also use Farnborough Sixth Form College. Both of these sites are outside the District. The club has approximately 188 players for the 2014/15 season.
Players England Hockey reported affiliated membership numbers in the club survey returns total for 2014/15 is 545.
Club membership is growing, in both the senior and the junior age groups, two mini teams have recently been established due to work done through schools and membership is likely to improve with the establishment of the two new AGPs in the District.
Active People Survey Active People Survey 8 (Oct 2013 - Oct 2014) shows that 0.20% of adults (16+) in England play hockey for at least 30 minutes once a week. Comparable data at Hampshire and District level is not available due to insufficient sample size.
If hockey participation in Hart were at the national average, this would indicate around 92 adults (aged 16+) living in the District play hockey (out of an adult population of approximately 46,145 (male and females) in the prime 16-55yrs adult age range for hockey participation). With current adult hockey club membership of around 545, Hart has well over the national participation rate for Hockey at 1.2%. This would appear to lend weight to the view that there is significant demand in Hart that is currently displaced to sites located in neighbouring boroughs.
Market Segmentation and Latent Demand As the figures below demonstrate, there is higher demand from those Sports Market Segmentation Groups aged 18-25 (males and females) playing and wanting to play hockey in Hart compared to other parts of the UK. The groups characterised by relatively high latent demand for hockey are more likely to be female, Chloe (young image conscious females keeping fit and Trim) and Alison (mums with a comfortable but busy lifestyle).
Clubs and facility providers can target these groups by organising the right programmes - for example Rush Hockey and Back to Hockey - to engage new participants.
Figure C6: Market Segmentation – currently participtating in Hockey
Source: Sport England Sports Market Segmentation (May 2015)
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix C: P a g e | 6
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Hockey Final Report 2015
Figure C7: Market Segmentation – would like to participtate in Hockey
Source: Sport England Sports Market Segmentation (May 2015)
As the figures demonstrate, there is a genuine demand for the sport across the District and highlights the need for suitable AGP facilities. In addition, as previously mentioned, a number of residents from neighbouring boroughs play their hockey in Hart District as the clubs are based on district borders with secondary pitches outside of Hart.
In Hart there is a higher than average participation rate for graduate and professional men aged 18-45 and graduate women aged 18-25. As the segmentation demonstrates there is also high latent demand for hockey from these groups and also mothers aged 36-45.
Clubs and facility providers can continue to target these groups by organising the right programmes for example Rush Hockey and Back to Hockey to engage new participants into hockey.
Casual Demand Open opportunities for semi-formal adult hockey - i.e. 5 a side Rush Hockey and Back to Hockey programmes are an opportunity to involve more people in the sport and will be taken forward in the Action Plan. England Hockey is supporting the clubs in Hart to encourage semi-formal forms of the game, outside of the league structure. In this way the hockey “offer” will be improved and more people can be encouraged to take part in semi-formal versions of the game. This is an opportunity to involve more people in the sport and will be taken forward as a recommendation in the Action Plan. The four school based pitches in Hart provide potential venues to accommodate this semi-formal use as long as floodlights are in place.
'Single System' Hockey Development Activity Venues At present, the sand based AGPs at Lord Wandsworth School are used for community hockey and are used by England Hockey for single system performance coaching for talented 13-17 year olds.
Figure C8: Single System Activities in Hart Single System activities in Hart Venue Names and Addresses JDC Boys and Girls all ages – Lord Wandsworth College JAC Boys and girls all ages – Lord Wandsworth College JRRPC N/A
Other Hockey Activities (festivals, junior leagues etc.) Yateley Summer Hockey Festival – Grass pitch next to clubhouse.
Also, when the ESA pitch develops as hoped with the support of England Hockey and the local club, and if pitch access time can be negotiated for coaching, then this venue has potential to become a Junior Development Centre over the period of this strategy, subject to support of the club.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix C: P a g e | 7
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Hockey Final Report 2015
Clubs First / Clubmark accredited hockey clubs The teams currently run by the Hart based hockey clubs in 2014/15 are summarised in the Figure C9. Neither club is currently ClubsFirst accredited by England Hockey (equivalent of Sport England Clubmark accreditation).
Figure C9: Hockey - Expressed Demand Hart Based Senior Hockey Clubs and 2014/15 League Home Ground Other Grounds Used Teams Yateley Hockey Club Hampshire Area Farnborough 6th form Edgbarrow Sports . Five men’s sides Division 4 (Women) - college - newly laid AGP Centre – Crowthorne . Four ladies’ sides South Hockey League and Wellington College. . One summer 14-15 . Nine junior sides
319 players 2014/15 Fleet & Ewshot Hockey Club South Hockey League » Army Hockey Centre Army Hockey Centre 2 . Four men’s sides Hampshire > 1 Princes Avenue, . Three ladies’ sides Hampshire Area Aldershot . One mixed Division 10 (Men) . Seven junior sides
188 players 2014/15 Alton Hockey Club South Hockey League » Amery Hill School Lord Wandsworth . Three men’s sides Hampshire > College . Two ladies’ sides . One mixed . Nine junior sides
164 players 2014/15 Warlock Vets Sunday only Lord Wandsworth N/a . One men’s side College
49 players 2014/15
The following junior hockey teams (boys and girls) and junior club sections are based in (or close to) Hart:
Figure C10: Junior Hockey - Expressed Demand Hart Based Youth Hockey Teams 2014/15 League Home Ground Other Grounds Used Yateley Hockey Club Training and Farnborough 6th Form Edbgbarrow Sports . 26 boys and 21 girls approx tournaments to U12 College Centre, aged U6 to U18. Tournament Wellington College play from U10 and league play League play U14 and from U14 U16 Fleet & Ewshot Hockey Club Training and Army Hockey Centre, Farnborough Sixth . 20 boys and 15 girls approx tournaments to U12 Aldershot Form College (Friday aged 7-13yrs. Tournament play Competitive & Farnborough Sixth evening) from U10 Friendly Form College Alton Hockey Club Training and Amery School (Out of Lord Wandsworth . 70 boys up to 18 and 57 girls up tournaments to U12 District) College to 18 Competitive & Friendly
Yateley and Fleet & Ewshot hockey clubs would prefer a venue in Hart as their base, as this would be more readily accessible to more District residents than the out of District sites used, particularly for juniors.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix C: Page | 8 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Hockey Final Report 2015
Planned growth Both clubs based in Hart have plans for growth to be accommodated at their new pitch venues. Yateley Hockey Club plan additional one senior men’s team, one senior women’s team one youth boys team and one youth girls team. Fleet and Ewshot Hockey Club also plan to increase their number of teams by one senior men’s team, one senior women’s team one youth boys team and one youth girls team. 4. The situation at individual sites (Step 4) Hockey sites The pitches were quality-assessed during the first half of the 2015 season. The assessments and ratings were reviewed by representatives of England Hockey and agreed.
Carrying capacity for hockey is a measure of the number of hours a week in the peak period (evenings and weekends) that the AGPs suitable for hockey use are available for community hockey use, i.e. total community hours available less hours allocated to other sports (football and tennis).
Figure C11 below summarised the situation at each sand-based AGP site with regard to:
1. Pitch supply (including the quality ratings) and conclusions reached as to the amount of play a site can accommodate (i.e. its carrying capacity for community use). 2. The amount of play that takes place at each site (i.e. the expressed demand) adjusted to reflect any casual or education use in addition to club use for matches and training. 3. The comparison (shown as a RAG rating) as to whether, for each pitch type it contains, a site is: . RED - Being overplayed (current use exceeds the carrying capacity) . AMBER - Being played to the level the site can sustain (current use matches the carrying capacity), or . GREEN - Potentially able to accommodate some additional play (current use falls below the carrying capacity)
Figure C11: Situation at Individual Sites Site Pitch Size Hours per Est. RAG Comments/ Assumptions Rating week in Use peak period Court Moor Good Small size 34 26 Mainly school use. Some limited School Fleet sand filled use for community evenings and weekends. Undersized for adult hockey Lord Wandsworth Standard Full sized 27.5 10 Mainly school use. Some limited College sand filled use for community evenings and weekends. Lord Wandsworth Standard Small Size 27.5 25 Mainly school use. Some limited College Sand filled use for community evenings and 31m x 56m weekends. Undersized for adult hockey St Neots Good Small Size 18.5 10 Undersized for adult hockey or Preparatory Sand filled football match play School 65m x 43m Down Grange - Good Full size sand 60 60 New pitch in full use by Basingstoke Basingstoke filled Hockey Club Hockey Club (out of District – Basingstoke & Deane)
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix C: Page | 9 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Hockey Final Report 2015
Site Pitch Size Hours per Est. RAG Comments/ Assumptions Rating week in Use peak period Dove House Good Small size N/a N/a School use only Undersized for School sand filled adult hockey match play (out of District – Floodlit Basingstoke & 30x20 Deane) Queen Mary’s Good Small size 34 10 Undersized for adult hockey match College sports sand filled play Centre Floodlit (out of District – 65x35 Basingstoke & Deane) Farnborough 6th Good Sand filled 34 34 At capacity Form College 100m x 60m (out of District – Rushmoor) Army Hockey Standard Sand filled 34 34 At Capacity Centre – 100m x 60m Aldershot (out of District – Rushmoor) Army Hockey Standard Sand filled 34 34 At Capacity Centre – 100m x 60m Aldershot (out of District – Rushmoor)
The quality of the out of District pitches is generally good, with the pitch at Farnborough 6th Form College being new in 2014.
Sport England Facilities Planning Model (FPM) - Hockey AGP Needs Assessment In April 2015 Sport England published an analysis of AGP provision in the District using data on supply and demand for AGPs from Sport England’s National Facilities Audit Dataset as of January 2015.
The FPM analysis includes consideration of all surface types that can be used for different sports. On this basis, the FPM analysis includes in the current supply three AGPs – one of which is currently used for hockey (Lord Wandsworth College). However, it is missing the floodlit full size 3G AGP at Gibraltar Barracks that has not been identified on the Active Places database, but has been verified through a site visit.
Figure C12: Supply / Demand – Community accessible AGPs in Hart Supply / Demand Hart England South Basingstoke East Hants Rushmoor East & Deane Number of pitch sites 3 1,974 362 3 7 5 Number of pitches 3 1,783 316 3 7 4 Supply – pitches per 10,000 of 0.32 0.36 0.41 0.17 0.59 0.52 the population Supply – publicly available pitch space in pitches (scaled with 1.73 1,578.59 272.60 2.97 5.24 4.54 hours available in peak period) Supply – total pitch space in visits per week in the peak 1,280 1,127,174 201,721 2,195 3,880 3,363 period (vpwpp)
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix C: P a g e | 10
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Hockey Final Report 2015
Supply / Demand Hart England South Basingstoke East Hants Rushmoor East & Deane Demand – vpwpp demanded 1,978 1,258,717 198,325 3,890 2,343 2,354 Demand – equivalent in pitches 2.67 1,700.97 268.01 5.26 3.17 3.18 (with comfort factor included) Supply / Demand balance -0.94 - 122.38 4.59 -2.29 2.07 1.36 (pitches)
Figure C13: Full Size AGPs in Hart Facility Name Surface Type Pitch Size Date Built Refurbished Frogmore Leisure Centre 3G - Floodlit 100x60m 1995 2005 Lord Wandsworth College Sand Filled - 90x60m 1993 2004 Floodlit RAF Odiham 3G - Floodlit 100x60m 1994 2010 * These three AGPs meet the minimum requirements (size and hours in peak period of community access) for inclusion in the Sport England Facilities Planning Model (FPM) and are on the Active Places database.
The analysis suggested that the current supply of AGPs suitable is below the level required to meet the demand that is generated by the population of Hart.
The simple Supply / Demand Balance identifies a small ‘shortfall’ of 0.94 AGPs. This is a very simplistic picture of the overall supply and demand across Hart. The resident population is estimated to generate a demand for 2.67 pitches. This compares to a current available supply of 1.73 pitches giving a negative supply / demand balance of 0.94 pitches.
The % of Hart’s population without access to a car is 7.5% which is lower than the national and regional averages. This suggests that the demand created is relatively mobile.
The model is forecasting that circa 68% of the satisfied demand within Hart’s population is being met by facilities outside of the District itself.
The scale of the unmet demand in Hart has been highlighted – it is 319 visits per week in the peak period, which is converted to an equivalent of 0.43 pitches.
The data analysis shows that the main cause of this unmet demand (circa 86%) is a lack of capacity at current facilities. The model identifies that circa 14% is caused by people living outside of the catchment of an existing AGP facility.
The model also forecasts that the AGPs in Hart are being used at 97.2% capacity during the peak periods each week. This is slightly higher than the national figure (90.4%) and the regional figure (96.3%) and suggests that the current pitches are extremely busy during peak times each week.
The analysis has forecast the following used capacity figures for the respective AGPs within Hart: . Frogmore Leisure Centre – 100% . Lord Wandsworth College – 93% . RAF Odiham – 100%
This illustrates that there are extremely limited (if any at all) opportunities to increase community usage of the current AGPs across the district and underlines how important each site currently is for current sporting activity.
Interestingly, the model forecasts that circa 57% of the current used capacity is actually being imported into Hart from other authority areas. This figure is significantly higher than that within the neighbouring local authorities apart from Rushmoor. The model suggests that only circa 43% of the used capacity is from Hart residents. This data reflects the FPM analysis for satisfied demand that suggests circa 68% of the demand being generated within Hart is being met by facilities outside of the District.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix C: Page | 11 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Hockey Final Report 2015
The data suggests that consideration could be given to the provision of more AGPs within the District to meet the demands of a growing population and to support any aspirations to increase the opportunities available to the residents of Hart at facilities within the District itself.
In summary, Hart has an insufficient supply of AGPs for hockey compared to the surrounding authorities which include hockey AGP provision. The model suggests that there is some unmet demand within Hart which should be considered as part of the Action Plan. 5. The current and future pictures of provision (Step 5) Hockey provision
Current There is evidence from two clubs of unmet and latent demand. Yateley Hockey Club has identified potential to grow four additional teams. Similarly, Fleet & Ewshot Hockey Club has plans to create four new teams. It is most likely that all of the additional peak time demand that would result from this planned growth could be accommodated at the two planned league compliant pitches at ESA and Calthorpe Park School (the latter being subject to satisfactory accessibility arrangements).
For junior hockey development, there would be sufficient capacity at these two new AGPs to meet demand in the short and medium term, but both clubs will still rely on using facilities out of the District and the use of school AGPs for practice.
The additional supply that would result from these projects would not be sufficient to cater for any displaced demand that might arise in the future from other boroughs. From work done in Rushmoor and Basingstoke and Deane it is clear that, in particular Rushmoor BC is currently a net importer of demand and there is currently no displaced demand from Rushmoor to Hart. Similarly, any current displaced demand from Basingstoke and Deane is met from Rushmoor and again, under current proposed provision could not be met by Hart.
Future Potential effect of population change - Future population growth figures have been calculated for the period of this strategy against the primary age groups for hockey participation.
Although some population growth is forecast in Sub Areas A (Eversley, Hook, Odiham, Hartley Wintney, Long Sutton) and Sub Area C (Fleet & Crondall) by 2020, assuming current hockey participation and team generation rates in Figure C14 and the forecast population growth takes place, there would be no growth in adult teams or youth teams in the District based on population alone. (Team generation rates are calculated by dividing the target population numbers – potential players, by the number of teams actually generated by that group. E.g. if there are currently eight junior boys teams from a population of 3,097 boys of the age to play hockey then dividing the population by the number of teams 3,097 divided by 8, means that one team is generated for every 365 boys in that age group.) However, taking into account current demand, the current club growth plans for eight additional teams, and growing levels of semi-formal demand, there is an insufficient supply of Hockey pitches in Hart.
To provide sufficient league compliant hockey pitch capacity to meet this current and additional forecast demand will necessitate further secured supply either within the District itself or close to the District boundary and easily accessible. The current proposals for AGPs at ESA and Calthorpe Park School have the potential to address a large proportion of this demand, meeting the needs of Yateley Hockey Club for match games, but Fleet and Ewshot will still rely on out of District provision for their matches, with Calthorpe Park School acting as a satellite site for them.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix C: Page | 12 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Hockey Final Report 2015
Figure C14: Population Projections and Hockey team Generation Rates Age Group No. Hockey Pop in Age Pop in Age Current Team Pop Change Potential Change in Teams 2015 Group 2015 Group 2020 Generation in Age Hockey Team No's Rate Group Senior Men 11* 24,755 25,287 2,250 532 0 (16-55yrs) Senior 7* 24,330 25,180 3,475 850 0 Women (16- 55yrs) Junior Boys 8 * 2,975 3,587 371 612 +2 (11-15yrs) Junior Girls 8* 2,743 3,347 342 604 +2 (11-15yrs) *Excludes Alton HC as membership is based in East Hampshire District.
Figure C14 shows that forecast population growth is not sufficient to have any discernible effect on participation in hockey, being limited to two junior boys and two junior girls teams. However, the current growth plans of the two clubs based in the District for eight teams means that additional facilities are needed to meet unmet and latent demand within the existing resident population.
Potential effect of demand trends, participation targets, how pitch sports are played – National trends show a reduction in interest in taking part in sports that demand a commitment to regular attendance, in favour of a more casual involvement.
This national picture is not reflected locally in Hart as far as hockey demand is concerned. Both local clubs have experienced modest growth in recent seasons. With active support from England Hockey to establish facility bases in Hart, opportunities and demand for junior hockey are also potentially growing.
Particular sports clubs and sites where demand is likely to increase or decrease and potential effect – It is highly likely that both of the locally based clubs will continue to expand in future years. However, access to the existing sites used by these clubs is out of District and unsecured. Unless the planned new facilities at ESA and Calthorpe Park School are delivered and secured for club use, it will be difficult to ensure that existing community access at peak times is maintained, let alone extended to accommodate growth. The best opportunity to secure additional capacity is through investment in new and refurbished facilities. The Action Plan should therefore support the development of these facilities as currently planned.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix C: Page | 13 Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Hockey Final Report 2015
6. Key findings and issues (Step 6)
Figure C15: Hockey Key Findings and Issues Hockey The main There is growth in junior and youth hockey demand at both clubs stimulated by new characteristics club/school links supported by an active volunteer infrastructure of team managers, coaches, of the current club and game officials. supply of and demand for The facility and coaching infrastructure ensures that, overall, there is a good level of provision opportunities for residents of Hart to learn and play hockey at all ages, both males and females. A gap in provision currently is the lack of a Hart-based adult Rush Hockey evening league or a Back to Hockey session at the senior club. The limited availability of pitch time in peak times and the cost of hire are constraining factors.
Two league compliant pitches are to be located in different areas in the District to accommodate adult league hockey in 2015.
Both of the hockey clubs based in Hart have plans for growth. Both plan to expand by a combined total of a further eight teams over the next few seasons (four senior and four youth). Further provision of hockey AGP capacity at peak weekend times will be needed to accommodate this unmet demand.
Is there enough NO. Current demand for league hockey (senior and youth) and for junior development is not accessible and met by current supply within Hart. The main pitches used by the clubs are based outside the secured District and is therefore displaced/exported demand. England Hockey estimate that a full community use sized sand filled AGP can accommodate 10 teams or 250 players. Given that there are 19 provision to adult teams in Hart an additional sand filled pitch is needed to accommodate current demand. meet current demand? There is also a concern as to the security of access to pitches for community hockey. The pitches used by the two community clubs active in Hart are on independent school sites and an MOD site. Whilst neither club has identified an issue of continued access, it would appear security is limited to term-by-term block bookings in season.
Is the provision YES. The AGPs hired by both clubs are well maintained by the independent schools and MOD that is that own these facilities. accessible of sufficient quality and appropriately maintained? What are the The spatial planning strategy and policies for Hart assume a low level of growth over the plan main period to 2020. Assuming current team generation rates in each sport, the forecast population characteristics growth will not generate demand additional teams until 2020 of the future supply and Hockey: demand for provision? Age Group No. Pop in age Pop in age Current Pop Potential hockey group 2014 group 2020 Team change in change in teams Generation age group hockey 2014 Rate team no's Senior Men (16- 11* 23,249 23,112 2,113 -137 0 55yrs) Senior Women 7* 22,896 23,021 3,270 145 0 (16-55yrs) Junior Boys (11- 8 * 2,922 3,097 365 175 0.5 15yrs) Junior Girls (11- 8* 2,736 2,960 342 224 0.5 15yrs) *Excludes Alton HC as membership is based in East Hampshire District.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix C: P a g e | 14
Hart Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment of Need Report - Hockey Final Report 2015
Instead, growth will be driven primarily through the current growth planned by the two clubs in the District to address known unmet and latent demand as detailed previously. The proposed new provision of two pitches for club and community use have the potential to provide capacity to meet future demand subject to the club reaching a long term use agreement to access the Calthorpe School facility at weekends and for evening training.
Given that Hockey England is supporting clubs in widening the hockey offer to include semi- formal versions of the game, proposals for growth of semi-formal hockey at club sites should be included in the Action Plan.
Is there enough YES, but only if the new pitch at Eversley goes ahead. The scale of forecast future accessible and demand and the proposals for new pitches suggest that future demand will be met. The Pitch secured at Eversley Sports Association, should it be built, will have secure access. The growth in community use population figures above suggest that there will be minimum future unmet demand (less than provision to one junior boys and one junior girls teams) and that future provision is needed primarily to meet future meet current unmet demand and the growth predicted by increasing participation through demand? club activity. This will be an issue for the Action Plan to address.
A long term club access agreement to the proposed pitch at Calthorpe Park School has potential to meet future demand for satellite use, should this be secured. This is an issue for the Strategy when more is known about progress in securing community use and whether the pitch, when completed, will be of a suitable standard as determined by England Hockey.
What is the The overall quality level of hockey pitch provision available to clubs in Hart regarding both overall quality AGPs and changing facilities is good. However, there are some issues with the quality of level? changing at the Army Hockey Centre in Aldershot.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk Appendix C: Page | 15 Hart District Council Playing Pitch Strategy: Final Report – July 2016 Amendment
Appendix D – Artificial Grass Pitch Analysis
www.continuumleisure.co.uk P a g e | 112 Hart DC Artificial Grass Pitch Analysis – Appendix D to the Playing Pitch Strategy
APPENDIX D – ARTIFICIAL GRASS PITCH ANALYSIS
1. Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs) The summary below provides the quantitative, qualitative and accessibility assessments for AGP provision within Hart alongside the leading outcomes from the detailed consultation process which has informed the overall Built Facilities Strategy and the Playing Pitch Strategy. The priorities and standards to be considered for AGP provision are then provided at the end of this assessment. As per the methodology presented within the main Built Facilities Strategy report document, all community accessible AGPs have been included within the audit and analysis.
2. Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs) The summary below provides the quantitative, qualitative and accessibility assessments for AGP provision within Hart alongside the leading outcomes from the detailed consultation process which has informed this study. The priorities for AGP provision are then provided at the end of this assessment. As per the methodology presented earlier, all community accessible AGPs have been included within the audit and analysis.
3. Quantitative Assessment Figures D1 and D2 provide a list of the full size and small sided AGP sites in Hart which are publicly accessible. Further information on each of the AGP sites audited in this study is also provided.
Figure D1: Community Accessible Full Size AGPs in Hart Map Facility Name Postcode Number Pitch Type Access Type Ownership Management Year Built Point of Type Type (Year Pitches Refurbished) Frogmore Leisure Rubber crumb Community Local Authority 1995 2 GU46 6AG 1 Pay and Play Centre pile (3G) school (in house) (2014) Sports Club / Other Lord Wandsworth Commercial 1994 3 RG29 1TB 1 Sand Filled Community Independent College Management (2004) Association School Sports Club / RAF Odiham Rubber crumb 1994 4 RG29 1QT 1 Community MOD MOD Gymnasium pile (3G) (2010) Association TOTAL FULL SIZE PITCHES 3 * Gibraltar Barracks (Minley) has a floodlit full size 3G AGP that is accessible to the community which has been assessed within the qualitative review, but is excluded from the supply and demand analysis as it is not on Active Places Power database and therefore not included in the FPM.
Figure D2: Community Accessible Small Sided AGPs in Hart Map Facility Name Postcode Number Pitch Type Access Type Ownership Management Year Built Point of Type Type (Year Pitches Refurbished) Sports Club / School/College/ Community 1 Court Moor School GU52 7RY 1 Sand Filled Community University 2007 School Association (In House) Sports Club / Other Lord Wandsworth Commercial 3 RG29 1TB 1 Sand Filled Community Independent 1994 College Management Association School Sports Club / School/College/ Rubber Crumb 5 Robert May's School RG29 1NA 1 Community Academies University 2011 Pile (3G) Association (In House) Sports Club / Peter Driver Sports Rubber Crumb Local Local Authority 6 GU52 8DF 1 Community N/A Ground Pile (3G) Authority (In House) Association TOTAL SMALL SIDED PITCHES 4
4. Other AGP Sites In addition to the AGP sites included within Sport England’s FPM analysis and the quantitative assessment of provision, a number of existing and potential future sites have been considered based on local intelligence: o Hart Leisure Centre: As part of the redevelopment of the new leisure centre, one x floodlit full size 3G AGP and four x floodlit 5-a-side 3G AGP's are planned. o Calthorpe Park School: A new full size 3G AGP opened November 2015. o Eversley Sports Association: Plans are currently being developed to build a floodlit full size sand filled AGP in conjunction with Yateley Hockey Club. www.continuumleisure.co.uk A p p e n d i x D P a g e | 1
Hart DC Artificial Grass Pitch Analysis – Appendix D to the Playing Pitch Strategy
5. Supply and Demand Analysis Figure D3 compares the current supply of and demand for AGPs in Hart with the national, regional and geographical neighbour averages. The data presented is based on the ‘Strategic Assessment of need for AGP Provision in Hart District Council’ (April 2015 FPM National Run Profile Report). Having consulted with Sport England the 2016 FPM analysis did not include Lord Wandsworth pitch and it has been agreed that the 2015 figures represent the most relevant analysis in line with the Consultant Team’s own audit work for the PPS.
Figure D3: Supply/Demand – Community accessible AGPs in Hart
Basingstoke Supply/Demand England South East Hart East Hants Rushmoor & Deane
Population 54,669,203 8,919,914 93,445 176,441 118,161 95,851 Number of pitch sites 1,974 362 3 3 7 5 Number of pitches 1,783 316 3 3 7 4 Supply – pitches per 10,000 of the 0.36 0.41 0.32 0.17 0.59 0.52 population Supply – publicly available pitch space in pitches (scaled with hours 1,578.59 272.60 1.73 2.97 5.24 4.54 available in peak period) Supply – total pitch space in visits per 1,127,174 201,721 1,280 2,195 3,880 3,363 week in the peak period (vpwpp) Demand – vpwpp demanded 1,258,717 198,325 1,978 3,890 2,343 2,354 Demand – equivalent in pitches (with 1,700.97 268.01 2.67 5.26 3.17 3.18 comfort factor included) Supply/Demand balance (pitches) - 122.38 0.94 - 0.94 - 2.29 2.07 1.36
The key findings of the FPM analysis in relation to the current supply of and demand for AGPs in Hart are as follows: o There are three sites across Hart which offer full size AGPs which are available for community hire. The FPM modelling excludes small sided and private facilities from its analysis. (NB. The FPM also excluded the full size 3G AGP at Gibraltar Barracks as it was not known that one of the grass pitches had been converted into a 3G AGP until the site audit.) o The three sites under review provide a combined total of three full size AGPs. Of the three full size AGPs, one is sand dressed and two have a rubber crumb pile 3G surface. o Taking into account when the full size AGPs in Hart are publicly available, Sport England’s FPM scales the supply down to 1.73 pitches available within the peak period. o One of the three full size AGP sites is within the ownership and management control of a school (Lord Wandsworth College), one of the sites is managed by the local authority (Frogmore Leisure Centre) and the other site is owned and managed by the MOD. o All three sites provide access to sports clubs/community associations. o Currently there are 0.32 community accessible full size AGPs in Hart per 10,000 of the population. This is a higher per capita supply than in Basingstoke & Deane, but lower than in Rushmoor and East Hants. This figure for Hart is also below the average figures for the South East and England (0.41 pitches and 0.36 pitches respectively per 10,000 population). o Data from the FPM shows that there is a negative supply/demand balance in Hart equivalent to 0.94 pitches, meaning that the supply of pitches is less than demand for use of those pitches. o When the total level of unmet demand for use of AGPs located in Hart is calculated, the FPM shows that unmet demand is equivalent to 0.43 pitches currently. However, if the floodlit full size 3G AGP at Gibraltar Barracks was to be included, then this would reduce the negative supply / demand balance.
Figure D4: compares the total supply of community accessible AGP space (m²) per 10,000 of the population in Hart with the supply in its neighbouring boroughs. Unlike the FPM, this analysis also takes into account small sided AGPs to test how much additional pitch space is accounted for by non-full size AGPs in Hart and its neighbouring boroughs. It should be noted that figure 6.49 considers the supply of AGP space only and does not take into account the age and condition of existing facilities, demand for use of these facilities or the import and export of demand across borough boundaries.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk A p p e n d i x D P a g e | 2
Hart DC Artificial Grass Pitch Analysis – Appendix D to the Playing Pitch Strategy
Figure D4: Supply of community accessible full size and small sided AGPs per 10,000 of the population – Hart comparison with geographical and statistical neighbours
Number of Number of Total Pitch Supply of pitch Population Supply of pitch Number of Area Full Size Small Sided Space Population space per 10,000 (2015 space per 10,000 AGP Sites Pitches Pitches (m²) (2011 Census) population (m²): Population population (m²): 2011 Projection) 2015 Hart 6 3 4 35,036 91,662 3,822 93,445 3,749 Geographical Neighbours Basingstoke & 6 3 5 43,759 167,799 2,601 176,441 2,480 Deane Bracknell Forest 12 6 8 48,400 113,205 4,275 118,495 4,084 East Hants 8 7 1 45,378 115,608 3,925 118,161 3,840 Rushmoor 6 5 2 48,605 93,807 5,181 95,851 5,071 Surrey Heath 6 3 3 32,747 86,144 3,801 87,420 3,746 West Berkshire 10 7 4 52,770 153,822 3,430 157,231 3,356 Wokingham 7 6 13 84,400 154,380 5,467 161,375 5,230 Waverley 9 8 7 48,605 121,572 3,998 124,231 3,912
The key findings of the AGP space (full and small sided pitches) comparison analysis are summarised below: o There are four small sided AGP sites in Hart providing a total of four small sided pitches. Lord Wandsworth College is the only site which offers both full size and small sided AGP provision. o Hart has the joint fifth highest number of small sided AGPs of the local authority areas in question with West Berkshire, which has four pitches. o 50% of the small sided AGPs have a 3G surface. o Hart has the sixth highest supply of pitch space per 10,000 population behind Surrey Heath. o The level of full and small sided AGP supply per 10,000 population in Hart is very similar to that in Surrey Heath and higher than in Basingstoke and Deane, Surrey Heath and West Berkshire. o It should be noted that Sport England’s FPM modelling only takes into account full size AGPs, which can cater for a wider range of sporting activity.
Figure D5 shows the demand for AGPs generated by Hart residents currently being met by supply, compared with the national, regional and neighbouring borough averages.
Figure D5: Satisfied Demand – demand from Hart residents currently being met by supply
Basingstoke & Satisfied Demand England South East Hart East Hants Rushmoor Deane
Total number of visits which 1,056,016 167,312 1,659 3,039 2,170 2,146 are met % of total demand satisfied 83.90 84.40 83.90 78.10 92.60 91.20 % of demand satisfied who 86.70 91.80 97.50 95.70 92.50 90.20 travelled by car % of demand satisfied who 11 7.10 2 3.50 6.50 8.80 travelled by foot % of demand satisfied who travelled by public 2.30 1.10 0.40 0.80 0.90 1 transport Demand Retained 1,054,905 163,977 536 1,939 1,613 1,170 Demand Retained - as a % 99.90 98 32.30 63.80 74.30 54.50 of Satisfied Demand Demand Exported 1,111 3,335 1,122 1,100 557 976 Demand Exported - as a % 0.10 2 67.70 36.20 25.70 45.50 of Satisfied Demand
The key findings of the FPM analysis in relation to satisfied demand for AGPs in Hart are as follows: o 83.9% of demand for use of AGPs generated by Hart’s 2015 population is satisfied. This level of satisfied demand is lower than the South East average (84.4%) and on a par with the national average (83.9%). It is also lower than in two of Hart’s neighbouring boroughs (East Hants and Rushmoor). o 32.3% of satisfied demand for use of AGPs in Hart is retained within the district (met by facilities located within Hart), whilst 67.7% is exported to other local authority areas (met by facilities www.continuumleisure.co.uk A p p e n d i x D P a g e | 3
Hart DC Artificial Grass Pitch Analysis – Appendix D to the Playing Pitch Strategy
located outside of Hart). The level of satisfied demand amongst Hart residents which is exported to other boroughs is higher than in all of Hart’s neighbouring boroughs. o The fact that two thirds of Hart’s satisfied demand for AGPs is exported suggests that residents are having to leave the district to have their needs met/access better quality facilities. This is further corroborated by over 90% of residents actually having the means to do so by car. o The vast majority (97.5%) of satisfied demand for use of AGPs is amongst Hart residents travelling by car. This is higher than the South East and England averages (91.8% and 86.7% respectively) and higher than the average in each of Hart’s neighbouring boroughs for demand satisfied through car travel. This suggests that appropriate car parking at AGP sites in Hart is also a key requirement.
Figure D6 shows the demand from Hart residents that is not currently being met by existing provision, compared with the national, regional and neighbouring borough averages.
Figure D6: Unmet Demand – demand from Hart residents not currently being met by supply
Basingstoke & Unmet Demand England South East Hart East Hants Rushmoor Deane
Total number of visits in the peak, not currently being 202,701 31,013 319 851 173 208 met Unmet demand as a % of 16.10 15.60 16.10 21.90 7.40 8.80 total demand Equivalent in Pitches - with 273.92 41.91 0.43 1.14 0.23 0.28 comfort factor % of Unmet Demand due to: Lack of Capacity 80 81.10 86.30 79.10 77.10 89.10 Outside Catchment 20 18.90 13.70 20.90 22.90 10.90 Outside Catchment: 20 18.90 13.70 20.90 22.90 10.90 % Unmet demand who do not have 15.20 14.40 9.60 14.90 16.90 8.80 access to a car % of Unmet demand who have access to a 4.80 4.40 4.20 6 6 2.10 car Lack of Capacity: 80 81.10 86.30 79.10 77.10 89.10 % Unmet demand who do not have 33.90 26.40 9.70 12.90 22.90 39.10 access to a car % of Unmet demand who have access to a 46.20 54.70 76.50 46.20 54.70 46.20 car
The key findings of the FPM analysis in relation to unmet demand for AGPs in Hart are as follows: o Currently 16.1% of demand for use of AGPs generated by Hart’s 2015 population is unmet, which is higher than the South East average (15.6%) and on a par with the national average (16.1%). This is double the level of unmet demand in neighbouring East Hants (7.4%) and Rushmoor (8.8%) but lower than in Basingstoke & Deane (21.9%). o 86.3% of this unmet demand is due to a lack of capacity at existing AGPs in the district, which is significant and suggests that existing AGPs are very well used during peak periods. It should be noted that this is supported by the site visits, programme of use and consultation. o Just 13.7% unmet demand for AGPs in Hart is due to Hart residents being located outside the catchment of an AGP. This suggests that it is the lack of availability of existing AGPs for community hire rather than their location which accounts for the vast majority of unmet demand in Hart. o Developing new community accessible AGPs in Hart is a potential solution in the FPM to addressing the level of unmet demand amongst the district’s residents.
Figure D7 shows how well the AGPs within Hart are used, compared with the national, regional and neighbouring borough averages.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk A p p e n d i x D P a g e | 4
Hart DC Artificial Grass Pitch Analysis – Appendix D to the Playing Pitch Strategy
Figure D7: Used Capacity - How well used are the facilities?
Basingstoke & Used Capacity England South East Hart East Hants Rushmoor Deane
Total number of visits used 1,056,291 194,306 1,244 2,132 3,429 3,363 of current capacity % of overall capacity of 90.40 96.30 97.20 97.20 88.40 100 pitches used % of visits made to pitches 11 6.20 2.70 5 4.10 5.60 by walkers % of visits made to pitches 89 93.80 97.30 95 95.90 94.40 by road Visits Imported: Number of visits 1,386 30,329 708 194 1,816 2,193 imported As a % of used capacity 0.10 15.60 56.90 9.10 53 65.20 Visits Retained: Number of Visits retained 1,054,905 163,977 536 1,939 1,613 1,170 As a % of used capacity 99.90 84.40 43.10 90.90 47 34.80
The key findings of the FPM analysis in relation to used capacity at AGPs in Hart are as follows: o AGPs in Hart are operating at 97.2% capacity during peak periods each week. o There are extremely limited opportunities to increase community usage of the current AGPs across the district and underlines how important each site currently is for current sporting activity. As such, additional AGP capacity cannot be provided within Hart without new provision. o 97.3% of visits to AGPs in Hart are made by road travel and 2.7% by foot. o An estimated 43.1% of the used capacity of AGPs in Hart comes from Hart residents (is related to visits to AGPs in Hart by the district’s residents). Due to the mobile nature of Hart residents with access to a car, residents are prepared to travel to facilities outside of the district to have their needs met.
Sports Facility Calculator (SFC) Sport England’s SFC estimates the likely facility needs of a particular population based on estimated demand for that facility type. Figure D8 shows total additional demand for AGPs generated by projected population growth in Hart in the period 2011-2032. It compares the number of facilities that the SFC estimates are required to meet projected levels of demand both generated by the additional residents in Hart both now and in the future. The population growth presented is based on the latest adjusted 2011 Census figure used by the Hart District Council (91,662). It should be noted that the SFC does not take into account the age and condition of existing facilities or the import and export of demand across borough boundaries.
Figure D8: Sports Facility Calculator – demand for AGPs generated by Hart’s current and future populations Projected Sports Facility Calculator Recommendation Population Year Population Visits per Week in the Increase on 2011 Pitches Peek period Census Figure 2011 91,662 - 2.64 1,955
2015 93,445 + 1,783 2.69 1,993
2032 107,986 + 14,293 3.11 2,304
The SFC suggests that between 2011 and 2015 population growth in Hart barely generated demand for any additional AGP provision. By 2032 it is projected that Hart’s population will generate demand for an additional half a pitch on top of the 2011 level of demand (or an additional 349 visits per week in the peak period).
Sport England’s Active People The Active People Survey found that in 2013/14 5.57% of the South East’s population aged 16+ participated in a minimum of 30 minutes of outdoor pitch sport at least once a week, which was on
www.continuumleisure.co.uk A p p e n d i x D P a g e | 5
Hart DC Artificial Grass Pitch Analysis – Appendix D to the Playing Pitch Strategy
a par with the national (6%) average. The sample size for Hart was insufficient to give a statistically robust result for this measure.
Sport England’s Market Segmentation Sport England’s Market Segmentation Tool estimates that 5.2% of Hart’s adult (18+) population currently participate in sport in an outdoor pitch environment, which is above the regional (4.6%) and national averages (4.2%).
The Tool also estimates that 7.2% of Hart’s adult (18+) population would like to participate in more sport in an outdoor pitch environment than they currently do, which is above the regional (6.8%) and national averages (6.7%).
This level of latent demand for participation in sport in an outdoor pitch environment represents a potential adult market of 4,984 people wanting to do more based on Market Segmentation data.
Supply and Demand Analysis Summary o The number of AGPs in Hart is lower than all of its neighbouring boroughs. o Whilst the FPM shows that there are only two full size 3G AGPs in Hart, the site audits revealed that there is an additional floodlit full size 3G AGP at Gibraltar Barracks. o The FPM modelling indicates that there is a need for an additional full size AGP in the district. o The percentage of Hart residents that wish to use an AGP and can have their demand satisfied at 83.9% is just below the average for the South East (84.4%). o When the total level of unmet demand for use of AGPs located in Hart is calculated, the FPM shows that unmet demand is equivalent to 0.43 pitches currently. However, if the floodlit full size 3G AGP at Gibraltar Barracks is included this will be reduced. o The overwhelming reason for this level of unmet is a lack of capacity at AGPs (both inside and outside the district). o All bar one of the AGPs in Hart are considered to be operating at 100% capacity during the hours that they are open to the public in the peak period (Lord Wandsworth College is at 93%). This illustrates that there is limited opportunity to increase community usage of the current AGPs within the district and underlines how important each site is to maintain current sporting activity. o The majority of the use of AGPs in Hart comes from non-residents. This is due to all the AGPs in Hart being located near the borders with surrounding authorities and therefore being located within the catchment of some residents living outside the district. o The area in Hart with the greatest unmet demand for AGPs is in and around Fleet. This should be considered the priority area for any additional AGP provision and it should be noted that the planned AGPs at the new Hart Leisure Centre will be located in this area. There are also high levels of unmet demand in the centre of Hart and towards the east of the district. o The SFC shows that projected population growth in Hart between 2011 and 2032 will generate demand for half an additional AGP by 2032 and the planned AGP developments should cater for any future demand.
Quantity Standards: AGPs The quantitative supply and demand analysis allows for consideration of an indicative quantity standards for AGP provision which can assist Hart District Council’s future investment decisions.
Figure D9 calculates the current supply of AGPs per 10,000 of the population in Hart as 0.32 pitches.
Figure D9: Current Supply per 10,000 for AGPs in Hart Current Supply Supply per 10,000 Population (pitches) population 3 93,445 0.32
Figure 6.55 shows how the quantity of AGP supply per 10,000 population in Hart will be affected by projected population growth in the district up to 2032. By 2017, without additional AGP provision or additional demand being met at existing sites, the supply of AGPs per 10,000 of the population in Hart is projected to fall to 0.41. By 2032 the level of supply is projected to fall to 0.37 pitches per 10,000 of the population. This indicates that action must be taken in the period up to 2032 to ensure that the quantity of AGP supply keeps pace with additional demand generated by population growth in Hart. In order to at least maintain the existing quantity standard, additional pitches or increased capacity at existing sites will be required to ensure that demand for AGPs does not go unmet in Hart.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk A p p e n d i x D P a g e | 6
Hart DC Artificial Grass Pitch Analysis – Appendix D to the Playing Pitch Strategy
It should be noted that the any indicative quantity standard should not be used as a blanket reference to meeting the needs of AGP provision in Hart. This indicative standard should be regularly reviewed by Hart District Council in liaison with Sport England to take into account alterations in demand for AGPs resulting from population growth and alterations to the supply for AGPs in Basingstoke and Deane and its neighbouring local authority areas.
With this in mind it is recommended that a minimum quantity standard of 0.32 pitches per 10,000 of the population is maintained and that supply does not fall below this level, and that partners work towards meeting the evident current needs and the growing demand for AGP provision to meet the predicated population increases.
Figure D10: Projected Impact of Population Growth on Quantity Standard for AGPs in Hart Supply per 10,000 Supply Population Year population (pitches) Projection (pitches) 2017 4 97,631 0.41
2026 4 104,927 0.38
2032 4 107,986 0.37
6.7.2 Qualitative Assessment Whilst the quantity of AGP provision in Hart is below most of its neighbours, the quality of the facility stock has been assessed via non-technical quality assessments to allow for verification of the quality of that supply in Hart.
Non-Technical Quality Assessment Based on the non-technical quality assessments (as described in the methodology earlier in the report), the highest scoring AGP sites are Lord Wandsworth College and Frogmore Leisure Centre. These scores are summarised below in figure 6.56 and presented in more detail in the Appendices.
Figure D11: Mean Quality Score – AGP Sites in Hart Site Mean Quality Score (%) Court Moor School 71% (Standard) Frogmore Leisure Centre 81% (Good) Gibraltar Barracks (Milney) 75% (Standard) Lord Wandsworth College 64% (Standard) / 83% (Good) RAF Odiham Gymnasium 75% (Standard) Robert May's School 75% (Standard) Peter Driver Sports Ground 76% (Standard)
The assessments reveal that most of the AGPs in Hart fall into one of two categories: standard or good. The two ‘good’ sites (Lord Wandsworth College and Frogmore Leisure Centre) have been built or refurbished in the last few years. All have weekly, monthly and yearly maintenance programmes in place. The smaller AGP at Lord Wandsworth School scored the lowest of all AGPs under review for a number of reasons, including its age, maintenance standards (leaves and litter on the pitch) and no DDA provision.
A number of potential improvements at individual AGP sites have been identified later on which could increase attractiveness to users and capacity for community use in the future.
6.7.3 Accessibility Assessment Figure D12 identifies 1 mile/20 minute walk-to catchments and 3 mile/20 minute drive-to catchments for each of the community accessible full size AGP sites within Hart. The map illustrates that the north, north west, west, central and south east of the district fall outside of a three mile catchment of the four full size AGP sites within the district.
The distance threshold indicated on the map covers both the walk to catchments and also the associated drive time catchments that are set out earlier in the study report.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk A p p e n d i x D P a g e | 7
Hart DC Artificial Grass Pitch Analysis – Appendix D to the Playing Pitch Strategy
Figure D12: Map of Audited Full Size AGP Sites in Hart (1 mile walk-to and 3 mile drive-to catchments marked)
Figure D13 identifies 1 mile/20 minute walk-to catchments and 3 mile/20 minute drive-to catchments for each of the community accessible AGP sites (full size and small sided) within Hart. The map illustrates a different picture to Figure 6.57 above, with areas in the north, north west and west of the district falling outside of a three mile catchment of the seven sites.
Figure D13: Map of Audited Full Size AGP Sites and Small Sided AGP Sites in Hart (1 mile walk-to and 3 mile drive-to catchments marked)
Figures D14 and D15 below show the location of the full size AGP sites in Hart under review in the context of provision in neighbouring boroughs and aggregated unmet demand for use of AGPs in Hart and its neighbouring boroughs.
Figure D14: Location of Full Size AGPs in Hart and Neighbouring Boroughs
www.continuumleisure.co.uk A p p e n d i x D P a g e | 8
Hart DC Artificial Grass Pitch Analysis – Appendix D to the Playing Pitch Strategy
Figure D14 indicates that there are large parts of the district that do not have AGPs located within them. A number of AGPs are located in Hart’s neighbouring boroughs, close to the border with Hart. AGP sites located close to Hart in its neighbouring boroughs include: Edgbarrow Sports Centre, Sandhurst Sports Centre and Wellington Health & Fitness Club (Wellington College) in Bracknell Forest, The Samuel Cody Specialist Sports College and The Sixth Form College Farnborough in Rushmoor and Kings International College in Surrey Heath. There is a notable lack of AGP provision in the north, north west, west, south and south east of Hart.
Figure D15 illustrates the differing levels of unmet demand for AGPs that exist across Hart. Whilst some of the areas of unmet demand can be found around the current sites, there are slightly higher levels of unmet demand highlighted in other parts of Hart where no AGPs currently located, such as in and around Fleet (which is densely populated).
www.continuumleisure.co.uk A p p e n d i x D P a g e | 9
Hart DC Artificial Grass Pitch Analysis – Appendix D to the Playing Pitch Strategy
Figure D15: Aggregated Unmet Demand for AGPs in Hart and Neighbouring Boroughs
The existing full size AGP which could potentially increase its usage capacity according to the FPM modelling (Lord Wandsworth College) is located in the south east of Hart where there is some level of unmet demand for AGPs. This indicates that not only is additional provision required in the south east of the district to increase capacity and reduce the existing level of unmet demand, but as mentioned previously, in and around the Fleet area.
This is further corroborated by the fact that The FA has identified through Local Area Data (LAD) and latent demand that there is a deficit of one 3G AGP in Hart.
It should also be noted that there is considerable unmet demand in and around Frogmore Leisure Centre in the north of the district. This could be attributed to the fact that in recent times, hockey has been displaced from Hart due to insufficient provision of playing surfaces suitable for hockey. The recent change to the surface at Frogmore Leisure Centre has left Hart without any AGPs suitable for hockey. Despite retaining their Hart based names and the majority of their membership residing in Hart, Fleet & Ewshot Hockey Club and Yateley Hockey Club now have to play in the neighbouring boroughs of Rushmoor and Bracknell Forest.
6.7.4 Local Needs and Consultation The key findings of the consultation process relevant to AGP provision in Hart are summarised below: o Hampshire County FA have identified a need for additional 3G AGP provision in Hart based on local area data and the level of latent demand identified through FPM modelling. o For match play and training for all age groups there is a need to secure more FA compliant floodlit 3G AGPs (with secured access agreements) on managed sites with good quality changing and social facilities. This will have the benefit of reducing reliance on open access park pitches where it is difficult to maintain pitch quality and cleanliness (from dog fouling) and to sustain ancillary facilities. o On the basis there are 238 teams playing competitive football in Hart, the Playing Pitch Strategy through Hampshire FA analysis, identifies a need for at least 4 full size 3G AGPs in Hart to meet www.continuumleisure.co.uk A p p e n d i x D P a g e | 10
Hart DC Artificial Grass Pitch Analysis – Appendix D to the Playing Pitch Strategy
the training needs of these clubs. Currently, there is the equivalent of three full size floodlit accessible 3G AGP’s in Hart leaving a shortfall of one full size pitch. This will be addressed through the provision of one full size 3G AGP at Hart Leisure Centre and one full size 3G AGP at Calthorpe Park School. Any initial consideration that this represents an oversupply for Hart is likely to be very short lived as the Council and its partners look to provide for the future and Hampshire FA continue to work with the community clubs to decant a high proportion of junior football onto 3G AGPs. o Fleet Town Girls and Ladies FC stated that they may need more pitches for matches if they can achieve the growth they are planning. They are keen to use winter training facilities on 3G AGPs in Fleet as they become available rather than travelling to Aldershot. o England Hockey have confirmed that Hart District is a priority area for their sport as there is very high latent demand and strong proactive clubs which are growing, but no longer play in the area. As such, developing new facilities in Hart is a priority for them and they and Sport England intend to invest in a new facility at Eversley Sports Association (ESA) to principally support Yateley Hockey Club. o Fleet & Ewshot Hockey Club stated that there are currently no full-size AGPs suitable for hockey available in Hart. As a result, the club and Yateley Hockey Club do not currently use facilities in Hart. o Yateley Hockey Club have also stated that building their own AGP facility for hockey in Hart (at Eversley Sports Association), which is a part of a wider development plan to increase the size and standing of the club, is a key priority for them.
6.7.5 Priorities for Dedicated AGPs The priorities below are set out in line with Sport England’s priorities for forward planning under the headings of protect, enhance and provide as detailed previously in the methodology.
Figure D16 below sets out the AGP improvements and priorities for Hart.
Figure D16: AGP Priorities, Improvement and Recommendations Protect Enhance Provide Maintain the current level of AGP Enhance the capacity of the AGP A new full size 32mm 3G AGP at provision across Hart at a minimum. provision within the district. Priority Calthorpe Park School. Ensure that the per capita AGP supply sites to consider: does not fall below 0.32 pitches per o Robert May’s School – the three- As part of the redevelopments for the 10,000 of the population. quarter sized 3G AGP is not fully new Hart Leisure Centre the following accessible by the community due facilities will be provided: Ensure that existing community use to the floodlighting constraints put o Four x floodlit 5-a-side 3G AGPs programmes on school sites are on their original planning o One x floodlit full size 3G AGP maintained. permission. Now that the floodlights and the site has been in Plans are currently being developed to operation for a couple of years the build a floodlit full size sand filled AGP at school should apply to extend the Eversley Sports Association in hours of use for the floodlights. conjunction with Yateley Hockey Club. The Council should work with England Enhance the quality of the AGP Hockey to support this project that provision within the district so as to meets the latent hockey demand. increase their rating from standard to good. Priority sites to consider: o Robert May’s School – the existing school changing rooms are in urgent need of refurbishment and current AGP users are having to use temporary portacabins by the side of the pitch. o Lord Wandsworth College – replace the surface of the three quarter size second sand filled AGP as it is more than 12 years old and coming to the end of its life.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk A p p e n d i x D P a g e | 11
Hart DC Artificial Grass Pitch Analysis – Appendix D to the Playing Pitch Strategy
Protect Enhance Provide Prioritisation and Outline Investment Needs
Short Term (1-3 years) 1. Robert May’s School – apply for an extension to the planning permission to extend the hours of use for the existing floodlights. 2. New floodlit full size 3G AGP at Calthorpe Park School 3. New floodlit full size and floodlit small sided 3G AGPs as part of the redevelopment of Hart Leisure Centre (budget identified).
Medium Term (3-5 years) 4. New floodlit full size sand-filled AGP as part of the new developments at Eversley Sports Association 5. No changes proposed.
Long Term (5 years+) 6. No changes proposed.
Future Needs for AGPs
The priorities set out above will address the current unmet demand and future demand by improving access to and the capacity of the current AGP stock whilst addressing the needs of Hart with the focus on a realistic aim for additional investment.
As part of the overall review process the growing population within the district will impact on the current supply (and the projected increase in supply) and unmet demand. The regular review of this study every two years will need to include updated Sport England FPM analysis.
www.continuumleisure.co.uk A p p e n d i x D P a g e | 12